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PREFACE. 


Ix writing this 'little volume, we designed to 
give a truthful ac count of the experience, success 
and, we may say, triumph of a woman, who, in ear- 
ly life was left a widow with three children depen- 
dent upon her. We have written without any 
attempt at exaggeration or any desire to make the 
account, in any respect, different from what' the 
facts would warrant. There are many persons, for 
want of energy, self-reliance or, perhaps, more 
from not knowing how much they could accom- 
plish and from a disposition to take an unfavorable 
view of human nature or who, from being intimi- 
dated with trifling obstacles or from want of cour- 
age to mail the trials of life, don’t make any effort 
but spending their time and energy in complaints 
or from fear of lions, which exist in the imagina- 
tion, pine away and die. The energy thus eitpend- 
ed, if put forth with courage, hope and confldence, 
would lighten many a heart and remove the dark 
shades of life. The nicest machinery wiil rust, if 


PREFACE. 


vi 

it be not oiled and rubbed often, — and the mind 
requires constant employment, in order to enjoy 
life, — the body, constant labor, in order to be kept 
sound and healthful, and much cannot be accom- 
plished unless due care be taken to keep both the 
body and mind in constant employment; the more 
pleasant the employment or the more in accord- 
ance with the desire and taste, the more certain is 
success. 

There can be no employment more agreeable to 
a mother than training her children to usefulness 
and happiness. To see the mind expand, the heart 
improve and the body develope affords peculiar 
gratification to a mother; and when she is thus 
engaged the amount of difficulty she will over- 
come, the amount of labor she will perform and 
the hours she will spend in diligence and efforts to 
accomplish her purpose surpasses ordinary belief. 
Many of Mrs. Parks’ acquaintances could not 
xinderstand how she could accomplish so much; 
the care of one child was more than some were 
equal to, and the care and education of three 
daughters by the needle-woman was incomprehen- 
sible to them. Providence had blessed her, and 
with those blessings she was ready to continue the 


PBEPACE. 


vii 

voyage of life, and trust that Providence who 
regards the widow and fatherless with peculiar 
care. , 

If these lines should ever see the light and oth- 
ers should thereby be induced to imitate her exam- 
ple and adopt her motto, “ God helps those who 
help themselves,” and with energy and persevei*- 
ence overcome the obstacles in their way and thus 
pass through life triumphantly, one of the purpo- 
ses of the writer will have been accomplished. 








THE NEEDLE- WOMAN 


CHAPTER I. 

A S I was passing to my place of business one bright 
morning in May, a friend accosted me, and said — 

“Mr. Parks and Miss Wood had a ride together yester- 
day.” 

Indeed I ” says I ; “ Are they engaged ? ” 

“ It seems so.” 

“ Well, Mr. Parks is a young man of fair business capaci- 
ties, and Miss Wood is smart, energetic, and of fine personal 
appearance, and she will make a good wife. A very fair 
match, and I am glad of it.” 

“So am I,” said my friend; “and I wish them much joy.” 
And we then separated to commence the duties of the hour. 

There are different customs in the villages of New Eng- 
land. Some of them are peculiar, and it is not certainly 
known how they originated. The village where my friend 
and I met was situated on the banks of the meandering, 
always-working, never-tiring Merrimack. This river turns 
more wheels, does more work, gives employment to more 
hands, and supports more people, and adds more to the ma- 
terial interest of New England, than any other water-power 
does to the inhabitants on its banks in America. Villages 

are on each bank of it, and they command beautiful views, 
•2 


10 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


variegated scenery and picturesque and charming landscapes. 
This village at this time contained from three thousand to 
four thousand industrious, frugal and untiring inhabitants, 
who were friendly to themselves and each other, and conse- 
quently social, and they enjoyed life. 

In one of these villages, on the banks of the river, were 
large spreading willows, and here it was customary for the 
poeple ot the village to promenade on Sunday eve, and if a 
young man and woman walked arm-in-arm under a certain 
willow tree which overshadowed the promenade, in presence 
of the people, all the world was at liberty to say they were 
engaged, — a novel way to announce an engagement, but a 
most effectual and public one. Another peculiarity existed, 
which, under certain circumstances, was equally significant. 
If the lady accepted an invitation to ride with the gentleman, 
not in a party, ^an engagement was announced. This mode 
did not require quite so much fortitude as walking under the 
branches of a tree on the public promenade, with hundreds 
of people in sight. 

In different countries customs obtain which originated so 
long ago that no one can give their origin, except possibly 
by tradition. 1'he Scotch are peculiar and by themselves — 
neither Fnglish nor Irish, nor part of both. Bethrothals by 
them were made in this way : The parties pressed the 
thumbs of their right hands, which they licked, together, and 
vowed fidelity. The ceremony possessed the solemnity of 
an oath ; the violator of such an engagement being consid- 
ered guilty of perjury. A favorite Scottish song commences 

“ There’s my thumb, I’ll ne’er beguile thee.” 

The pressure of moised thumbs at the solemn ratification 
of an engagement, was used in other contracis. The records 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN, 


U 


of Scottish courts contain examples of sales being confirmed 
by the judges on the production of evidence that the parties 
had licked and pressed their thumbs on the occasion of a 
bargain. The Highland and Lowland schoohboys still lick 
their thumbs in bargain making. 

No matter how an engagement is made public, whether by 
a walk, a ride, licking the thumbs, or formal declaration, it 
is an engagement, and that is a matter of vital importance to 
the parties. The village soon had the news. Each had his 
opinion. The young man was in good business, industrious, 
capable — had been often trusted and proved fathful. There 
seemed no good reason why he should not assume the duties 
and responsibilities of married life. It was the universal 
opinion that in his selection he had used good judgment and 
sound discretion, for he had selected for his partner a young 
lady, whose early training had fitted her for the companion 
of a young man commencing life, depegdcnt upon hivS energy, 
his will, and the smiles of Providence. She could adapt her- 
self to circumstances, and was equally at ease in the work- 
shop or drawing-room. To all outward appearance, a long 
life, a useful life, a happy life, was before them. Their cir- 
cumstances were equal. Both had been educated in New 
England to habits of industry, economy and virtue, and in a 
few months a few friends met, he said yes and she said yes, 
and they two were one. 

Now life begins in earnest. Up to this hour, what is it? 
The training of a grape-vine— the culture of a flower — the 
moulding of matter — the expansion of an intellect, or the 
growth and culture of mind and matter. What is life, any- 
way ? It is a reality. It has purpose, object, meaning, and 
soul. To some it has aims high, lofty, grand, noble, eternal. 
To others it is aimless, shapeless, without form or comeliness, 


12 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


of to-day, without vitality, and gone or lost. It sometimes 
begins with fair prospects of success — a change comes, and 
the responsibilities and fruit of the union devolves upon one. 

Mr. and Mrs. Parks had now embarked. Life was theirs 
with its duties, its cares, its sunshine and its shade. Mr. 
Parks^ business gave him fair support. He was an agent, 
employed at a fixed compensation. He knew his income, 
and was not dependent upon daily profits. In this he had 
an advantage. He must govern himself accordingly. But 
who can count the changes in New England in forty years? 
Commerce to-day— manufactures to-morrow j a ship, a brig 
to-day, steamboat to-morrow. A stage-coach to-day, a rail- 
car to-morrow ; a post to-day, a telegraph to-morrow. To- 
day the world is at a distance, and people strangers to each 
other ; to-morrow the world’s news comes with the morning 
sun. Strangers are -friends, and the President of the United 
States congratulates the Emperor of all the Russias on the 
birtli of a son. Spain begins new life with religious liberty. 
The revolution of 1776 is in full force. The spirit of our 
fathers has entered the Old World. The Pope rises in his 
wrath. He tries to stop the falls of Niagara with impotent 
bulls, and he is drowned. 

But we have digressed. Mr. Parks’ employers found that 
changes had rendered their business unprofitable. They dis- 
continued it, and his agency is at an end. Uis duties to him- 
self and family remained the same, and now he must seek 
other and less certain support. He was just in the condition 
to look to government for an oflSce, and being politically with 
the then dominant party, and possessing business talents, he 
soon obtained an office which promised him ample support. 
He enters upon its duties, and discharges them to the satis- 
faction of the department. But a change comes, and after 


THE NEEHLE-WOMAN. 


13 


eight years of service, he finds his place filled by another, 
and, what seems passing strange to the uninitiated, himself 
without any other means than he had when he commenced 
discharging the duties of his office. What becomes of the 
money of office-holders is a mystery. The best of their 
days are gone, and they are pecuniarily no better than when 
in early or middle life they entered the service of govern- 
ment. 

And here Mr. Parks was. Again lie must find employment 
or engage in business ; but after middle life has past few men 
enter upon new and untried business With that energy which 
commands success, aud thougli a man at forty may have more 
experience and maturer judgment than at the commencement 
of business life, there is a want of that spring which the 
Yankees say secures success. Young men will run round 
him twice a day. Mr. Parks felt this change, but he could 
not help it. He could not know nor see everybody, as he 
once could, and if he did see them, he had not that tact which 
he formerly possessed, and he soon found it. a task to <5om* 
pete with younger men. His health had been impaired, and 
his energy, his courage, began to fail him. We have seen 
the sun rise fair, and smile upon the earth, and in a few 
hours the clouds would overshadow it, and for days it could 
not be seen, though occasionally it would give promise of 
appearance, when another and a deeper and darker cloud 
would hide it from our view. So in this life. A cloud arises. 
We think little of it at first. It seems to disappear. Again 
we are startled by it, and then again our fears seem ground- 
less, but at length the reality comes, and though nature has 
been striving and struggling, firmer and stronger has disease 
seized the system, and the physician and nature too, yield the 
victory. 


14 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Suffice it to say that Mr. Parks was soon obliged to relin- 
quish his business, and in spite of the efforts of an experi- 
enced physician, and the careful nursing ard constant watch- 
ing of his tender and affectionate wife, he was obliged to 
take leave of her and thdr three daughters, and look upon 
them no more forever. Friends came. The last duties were 
discharged. Mrs. Parks found herself alone with three 
bright and dependent daughters to accompany her lifers jour- 
ney through. But how shall they be fed and wherewith shall 
they be clothed ? The last years ot Mr. Parks’ life had been 
attended with loss, and his sickness had consumed what little 
substance remained at the close of his business. Mrs. Parks 
was now alone with three daughters, and a needle for their 
support. The duties of the hour were full of interest to 
her, and how and what to do required but a few moments’ 
reflection. , 

The girls, my jewels, must live together and grow up in 
each othei ’s affections, or they must be separated. If sepa- 
rated, who will be mother to them, and when and wliere and 
how often shall their mother see, meet and receive their 
smiles, and enjoy their happy and cheerful childhood and 
youth ? Separate them ? No, never. This needle shall 
support us. To-morrow this Christian people shall know 
that I have three jewels which with this needle 1 must sup- 
port, educate and train to act well their part in life. I ask 
only for work, and I will feed, clothe, and educate the three 
daughters with whom God has blessed me. They will stim- 
ulate me to exertion. They will buoy me up. They will 
sweeten every hour of my life.” 

Jenny Lind said, when first in this country, and when her 
name was on every tongue in the land, and when on a visit 
to a friend in tlie western part of New York, as she took up 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


w 


the foot of her babe and kissed it, Ah, madam, you have 
something worth living for/’ and surely Mrs. Parks had 
something worth living for, and, besides, God helps those 
who help themselves. 

By His providence I am left a widow, not to repine and 
die, but with these jewels, whose life is my life, with whom I 
will live, and for whom, if necessary, I will die, to enjoy life, 
and to recieve from them His blessing.” 

At once she announced to her neighbor and friend, Mrs. 
Dix, her situation, her resolution, her purpose, with a request 
that she would make known to others as she had opportunity, 
that she was prepared to work with her needle, and that she 
hoped to find employment, and with her needle to support 
herself and daughters. 

Mrs. Dix looked up with a smile, and asked her if she 
really was in earnest. 

Mrs. Parks instantly replied, “I am.” 

What is their age ? ” 

Eleven, nine, and three.” 

They will require some care. [ suppose Alice and Grace 
must attend school, while little Fanny will be with you all 
the time. Well, Mrs. Parks, I have three daughters, and I 
know what it is to care for them. I am obliged to keep help 
and work myself, and we all have enough to do, while Mr. 
Dix is diligent and provides for us. T don’t think it would 
be possible for me to do what you purpose to do.” 

“ Perhaps not, Mrs. Dix ; but you have other engagements 
— you must look after the poor of the Parish. The Benevo- 
lent Society calls upon you often, and claims of you as much 
as one day in the week — a meeting of ladies to-day, the 
sewing circle or benevolent society to morrow, and in various 
ways, socially, your time passes — all of which requires hours 


16 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


each day, and days each week ; but I must deny myself all 
such agreeable duties, and devote myself to the maintenance 
of myself and little ones — with my needle I must support 
them.” 

Well, Mrs. Parks, I am glad to witness your courage and 
determination, and I hope your success will be equal to your 
energy and resolution. The Benevolent Society will meet 
this afternoon, and several ladies will be there who hire most 
of their sewing done, and I will inform them of your pur- 
pose, and I doubt not you will find them ready and happy to 
employ you.” 

I Thank you, Mrs. Dix. Every one must decide for 
themselves what they can and what they will do, and go 
about it resolutely and cheerfully. No one knows what they 
can do till they try. I have always been used to work, and 
I have no fear of a little extra exertion, if necessary, and you 
know God helps them who help themselves. Good morning, 
Mrs. Dix.” 

Good morning, Mrs. Parks. I am happy to see you in 
such good spirits.” 


CHAPTER n. 


TiTRS. Parks returned home, if a hired house can be called 
home, where she found her little ones, and as their 
bright eyes met hers, and she saw how happy, how innocent, 
how content they were, and how tenderly they loved each 
other, her heart throbbed with emotion — ^her resolution was 
firmer, her purpose unalterable. Seperate ^these jewels and 
commit them to strangers ! No, never. They are part of 
myself. They drew their life from these breasts, and they 
are my joy, my riches, my treasures, my being, myself. 

0 thou dread power, who reign’st above, 

1 know thou wilt me hear, 

When for this scene of peace and love, 

I make my prayer sincere. 

She who her tender offspring eyes 
With tender hopes and fears, 

O, bless her with a mother’s joys, 

But spare a mother’s tears. 

Thou beauteous seraph sister band. 

With earnest tears I pray. 

Thou know’st the snares on every hand. 

Guide thou their steps alway. 

When soon or late they reach that coast. 

O’er life’s rough ocean driven, 

May they rejoice, no wanderer lost, 

^ A family in heaven. 

3 


18 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


In the afternoon, Mrs. Dix was in the rooms of the Benevo- 
lent Society at the usual hour, and after the ladies had com- 
menced their work, she told them she had had an interview 
with Mrs. Parks that morning, and that she had concluded to 
keep her children with her and support herself and them with 
her needle, that she was now prepared to take in work, and 
she hoped if any of them had any sewing, 'which they did not 
intend to do at home, they would employ her to do it. 

it Why Mrs. Dix ! Does Mrs. Parks expect lo support her- 
self and her three daughters by her needle ? ” said Mrs. 
Bradley. I have' only two children and I keep help ; and I 
am obliged to hire a seamstress and Mr. Bradley thinks I 
keep a woman sewing half the time, and how can Mrs. 
Parks think of supporting herself and three children with 
her own hands ? I don’t think I could support myself with 
a needle, and I call myself smart !” 

I think ” says Mrs. Smith, “ a woman, who has three chil- 
dren and no means of support, ought to put them out in re- 
spectable families, where they can be of some use and be 
put to work. I know some mothers dread putting their 
children under the care of others, but I think it is because 
they don’t want them to work, but be brought up genteelly. 
Poverty and pride often go hand in hand, and I have no pa- 
tience with, nor sympathy for, persons, who refuse good pla- 
ces for their children.” 

But Mrs. Parks proposes to keep her children with her 
and support them herself ; and if she can, I presume you have 
no particular objections, Mrs. Smith ?” 

No, none in particular; but I believe in transplanting 
children, — and this notion that a mother can’t be separated 
from her children, is all affectation.” 

^^You have no children, Mrs. Smith, and know comparative- 


THE needle-woman. 


19 


ly little of a mother’s heart/’ said Mrs. Dix. I have no 
doubt, if you had children, you would feel a responsibility, a 
duty, a love for them, which would induce you to make your 
utmost exertion for their comfort and happiness. It is easy 
to say what we would do under particular circumstances, but 
theory and practise do not always agree ; and as Mrs. Parks 
proposes to provide for them by her own industry, I think 
she ought to be encouraged. She asks no favors, unless it 
be a favor to be employed to work.” 

" Yes, I understand that, Mrs. Dix. She wants to take care 
of her three children, and earn their bread and butter with 
her needle. Preposterous ! Who ever heard of a woman’s un- 
dertaking to feed, clothe, and educate three children with a 
needle ! I doubt if she can take care of herself. Suppose 
she should be sick for a month — what then ? I tell you, Mrs. 
Dix, it would be better for the children and Mrs. Parks too 
to put them into good families, than for her to be so foolish 
as to undertake to provide for them herself. How old did 
you say they were ? ” 

Three, nine, and eleven.” 

Let some person adopt them and see how much better it 
would be for them and Mrs. Parks, than for her to struggle 
with such a task.” 

“ This adopting children,” says Mrs. White, seems well in 
theory, but a very diflGerent thing in practice.” 

** ‘ Mankind are unco weak, 

And little to be trusted, 

If self the wav’ring balance shake, 

It’s rarely right adjusted.’ 

Few people know how to treat children and many persons 
don’t know how to treat their own, much less the children of 
other people. I seldom have known children who were 


20 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


adopted, who had that sympathy and care, which is the prov- 
ence of a mother. Few children can open their hearts 
to others as they can and will to a mother, and often 
too much is expected of them. Then the idea of sending 
one here, and another there, and have them grow up compar- 
atively strangers to each other, is extremely repugnant to the 
feelings of a tender and affectionate mother. My friend, 
Mrs. Chamberlain, intended to be a kind woman, and, no 
doubt, supposed she was, — but then she was nervous, and 
though she had children, who were married, she undertook 
to adopt a neice, but did not know the heart of a child. 
She had abundance of means, and she was willing to use 
them for her neice ; but she contrived to keep her in torment 
all the time. She had a sister in the western country, who 
was left a widow with children and no adequate means of 
support, and Mrs. Chamberlain took one of the daughters 
and fitted her with dresses' and kept her as a sort of com- 
panion, and wherever Mrs. C. went her neice was sure to go. 

When Mrs. C.’s friends called, they naturally inquired 
^ whose little girl she had with her’ and then she would be- 
gin and exclaim ^ 0 dear ! If you could only have seen her 
when I found her out west with my dear sister, who is a 
widow : — There they j^ere in a log-cabin, as poor as poverty 
itself. This little girl had only one plain calico dress, and I 
have taken her and fitted her with new clothes, so that she 
might look decent and I hope to make something of her ; I 
wish you could have seen how they lived — 0 dear me, such 
poverty I never witnessed before ; so destitute ! My sister 
with four children, living in a log-cabin, and scarcely any- 
thing to eat and less to wear, except some second-hand dress- 
es I sent her. One of her uncles has taken the other daugh- 
ter, and I hope he will do as well by her as I shall by this 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


21 


one. Come here, my dear, and tell the lady how you lived 
out west!’ 

Lizzie hesitated, and hung down her head, when her aunt 
told her to come and tell the lady the story of her poverty. 

^ Oh, Aunt ! I don’t think we were so very poor ! I’m sure 
we were very comfortable till Father died, and I think we 
should have got along very well, — brother William would 
take care of us.’ 

You see, Mrs. Hox, she is not willing to own anything. 
Did you have anything but a calico dress out there ?’ 

That was all we wanted, aunty, we did’nt need any other 
kind.’ 

“ ^ 0 dear, how unwilling poor children are to own their con- 
dition. Her father was a very proud man, and I guess Lizzie 
comes honestly by her pride.’ 

“ Well, Mrs. Chamberlain,’ says Mrs. Hox, ‘ she appears 
to be a bright girl, and very soon she will be a companion for 
you.’ 

^ 0 yes, she is bright enough, but I want her to realize 
what I am doing for her, and own up. to it. I have already 
had four dresses made for her, and bought her a fashionable 
hat, and taken her to meeting with me, and I think she is old 
enough to appreciate what I have done for her.’ 

“ ^ I think she does, or will,’ said Mrs. Hox ; ^ but I presume 
she would just as soon not hear so much about her former con- 
dition.’ 

^ It may be, but I don’t mean she shall forget it,’ said Mrs. 
Chamberlain. 

“ ^ Good morning, madam, good morning little girl. I hope 
you will be happy with your aunt.’ 

No sooner had Mrs. Hox gone than Mrs. C. began to chide 
the little girl, because she had not told Mrs. Hox about the 


22 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


log hut, and what she had done for her. Lizzie tore herself 
away and by herself cried as orphan children do. She said to 
herself she had rather live with her mother in rags than be 
out on exhibition in this way, and her tears gave her relief. 
Her aunt was so good, so kind, so obliging, so loving, she sup- 
posed she ought to do as she said, but somehow she could’nt. 
This same play was acted for weeks, for months, as one and 
another called, until the little girPs spirit was nearly broken 
and her heart nearly burst. The few months she had been 
with her aunt had witnessed more sorrow, more tears, than 
the other twelve Jyears of her life. She had been to the 
beach, she had seen many fine ladies and pleasant children of 
her age, she had nice clothes, she had the delicacies of the table, 
but to everybody ^and everywhere Mrs. C. would detail in 
her presence her poverty, and exhibit her in such a manner 
as would wound the pride and break the spirit of any child, 
and instead of loving her aunt, if she didn^t hate her, she 
couldn’t bear her presence anywhere, and she would contrive 
to keep out of sight, particularly ijhen she feared or saw 
signs of any exhibition. She had spirit, she had sense and 
sensibility. Poverty was a precious morsel to such exhibits. 
Many a night had she cried herself to sleep, and started as 
she saw or dreamed she saw strangers with her aunt. She 
concealed her feelings as well as she could when company 
was present, but sometimes she would leave the room abrupt- 
ly, sobbing almost aloud. Poor girl, her aunt would exclaim, 
I have no doubt she feels bad when she thinks how poor she 
was, little thinking she was piercing her through and through 
with the most deadly weapons and with sorrow upon sorrow 
— that poverty has no kindred to mortification — that the spirit 
of a miss of fourteen summers may be broken, though she be 
clothed in silks and satins and fare sumptuously every day. 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


23 


Lizzie had heard so much and so often of her poverty, that 
she longed for the log cabin and calico dress, and it her aunt 
would only send her back to the west she would throw up her 
silks, her satins and her hat, so high that they would never 
reach her head again. Some persons when in trouble will 
have no courage. They will despond, and seem about to die. 
If a bear be in the way, they leave their self-possession and 
can make no resistance but yield themselves to his power, 
while others will contrive ways and means of escape, and of- 
ten overcoming one difficulty will give strength to surmount 
other and greater difficulties, they will march boldly on and 
frighten bears out of sight and hearing. Courage, and self- 
reliance is more than half the battle in this life. 

Though Lizzie had suffered enough to break the heart of a 
giant, she hoped this ding-dong account of her poverty would 
die out and be forgotten. But her aunt was in a sort of pas- 
sion or frensy to make known how kind, how benevolent she 
was — and she exhibited her niece more as evidence of her own 
disinterested benevolence than for any other purpose. As 
preparations were made for the sea-shore, Lizzie found the 
same parties would be there and she must be exhibited as the 
poverty-stricken orphan of nearly two years’ standing. During 
the winter and spring, her aunt had seen but little company, 
and Lizzie had made herself busy with books and thus escaped 
their presence. But now as one and another called before 
leaving town for the summer, she began to hear how her aunt 
was fitting her as she would her own daughter, and what a 
contrast there must be between her present and her western 
life. The scenes of the last summer revived with the fresh- 
ness of spring. She thought, too, the girls of her own age 
would whisper and point to her as the orphan with a calico 
dress from the west. She could not endure the sight of the 


24 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


beach. She would rather see a field of corn on the western 
prairie than the waters of the Atlantic. The plains of the 
west were beautiful, while the hills and roades of New Eng- 
land had no charm for her. But how to escape from the show 
and vanity of fashionable life, and once more live with her 
mother, though in a log cabin, and away from such exhibitions 
was a problem which an older miss might find it difficult to 
solve. 

Thinking, pondering, planning, dreaming ever, she finally 
hit upon an expedient which she hoped would relieve her. 
Not more than a day’s journey by railroad lived her father’s 
brother. Before going to the sea-side, she asked permission 
to visit him. Now her aunt did not deny any reasonable re- 
quest, and she gave her permission, and hoped she would have 
a pleasant visit. Then she breathed free and easy. She 
was herself again. Arrived at his house in safety, and after 
a few days she made bold to detail her sufferings and her 
horrors. 

Her uncle saw at once how intended kindness accompanied 
with a passion for self-esteem and public commendation ren- 
dered the subject of that kindness miserable, and the kindness 
itself, absolute cruelty. Her uncle was a man of too much 
sympathy for his own comfort; his feelings were easily and 
quickly enlisted, and though her sister had been with him for 
years, she had never heard a word of her former condition, 
but rather might think she had done him a kindness by spend- 
ing a few years with him. 

Life is too short to be spent in misery ; childhood and 
youth should be cheerful; life should be enjoyed; and if Liz- 
zie was in constant agony, she might as well be in a convent. 

In a few weeks a letter was sent to Aunt Chamberlain, in 
the following words : 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


25 


June 30, 1852. 


" ' My dear aunt, 

“ ‘ I thank you sincerely for your kindness to 
me, but as you know how disagreeable it is to me to hear so 
much about the poverty and destitution of my mother, etc., I 
think I cannot endure another visit to the sea-side, where I 
must be exhibited as I was last summer. To-morrow I leave 
for the far west, log-cabin and calico dress. I hope and trust 
you will have a fine visit this summer, and return much invig- 
orated in health and spirits. 

u i Truly your aff ct’e neice, 

“ < Lizzie.’ 


"To the west she went; and to this day she has not seen 
her aunt nor Lynn beach. Now, Mrs. Smith, this is an ex- 
treme case, but not a solitary one. I have seen orphan chil- 
dren apparently incapable of enjoying the plays and sports 
of childhood and youth. They were suffering for a mother’s 
sympathy and love, though with kind and benevolent friends. 
Depend upon it, no other person can take care of daughters 
as a mother, and they had better suffer with her, than from 
her.” 

Here Mrs. Dix interposed her authority, and said a few 
matters of business must be attended to before the hour of 
adjournment; and then the Circle, thinking and talking of 
the pluck and spirit of the needle-woman and her jewels, left 
for their own fire-sides and happy homes. 


3 


CHAPTEK 111. 


HEN the Sewing Circle separated, Mrs. White had 



^ ^ just finished her account of Lizzie and her aunt, and 
it had made a deep impression — and now as they met the 
next week, they were all charged, and they let off their bat- 
teries like Capt. Bragg, when Gen. Taylor cried out to him, 
more grape, Capt. Bragg, more grape, Capt. Bragg. 

Mrs. Taylor first accosted Mrs. White, and said she was a 
perlect convert to her doctrine. When she first saw Mrs. 
Parks and her treasures, she thought they must suffer, and in 
many families they might be adopted and treated kindly, but 
kindness often shows itself in such selfish ways as to render 
the recipient unhappy and sometimes miserable. “ For my 
part, I would go out washing before I would be sepa- 
rated from my children, and I should rather have two meals 
per day with them, and a crust of bread at that, than go to 
bed without a good-night kiss. We live for our children, and 
I don’t know what this life would be worth without them, and 
I fully justify Mrs. Parks, and I shall employ her all I can.” 

I am very happy to hear you say so, Mrs. Taylor,” said 
Mrs. Dix. 

And Mrs. Orne said amen, when Mrs. Gilman said 1 agree 
with you fully, ladies. And so do I, said Mrs. Hayes, — and 
Mrs. Emery said she didn’t believe there was one lady of 
nerve, of pluck, and of heart, who wouldn’t justify Mrs. Parks 
and encourage her too. 

This was too much for Mrs. Smith, and she said that was 


THE NEeHLE-WoMAN. 


27 


an extreme case, of which Mrs. White gave account, and she 
didn’t believe but what it was colored some. This support- 
ing herself and three daughters with a needle, sounds well, 
and may read well in print, but I tell you it can’t be done^ 
and it won’t be three months before we shall be asked to 
make up some clothes for these orphans, and I am still of the 
opinion that in some rich families they would all be better 
off.” 

“ Well, suppose we are, would not you sooner make clothes 
for those who helped themselves, than for those irresolute 
complaining persons, who rather others would work for them, 
than to work themselves ?” said Mrs. White. 

Perhaps so,” said Mrs. Smith, but if Mrs. Parks is not 
willing to put her children out, she need not think of getting 
anything of this Sewing Circle, so far as I am concerned.” 

" Yes, Mrs. Smith, you are always for sending everything 
a distance, where you don’t know whether the recipients are 
worthy or not, and having an account of it published in the 
papers,” said Mrs. Taylor a little excited — but I think char- 
ity begins at home, and if Mrs. Parks needs any assistance of 
us, she will have it, whether you vote for it or not,” when there 
was a general stampede all around, Yes she will Mrs. Taylor, 
indeed she will. 

But Mrs. Smith was by no means disconcerted. She was 
one of those persons who are obstinate, and as willful as 
most pretty women, and she enjoyed a storm and was grati- 
fied at the excitement of the moment. And now ladies, you 
needn’t try to scare me, for I have seen as much of the world 
as any of you,” said Mrs. Smith, “ and I can bring you more 
cases where orphans have been brought up by other families 
and properly cared for, and have also become respectable 
and useful members of society, five to one, than you can of 


28 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


such cases as Mrs. White gave us in that long and pitiable 
story about Mrs. Chamberlain and Lizzie. She might have 
•been a nervous woman, of unhappy temper, and a little en- 
vious withal, but you can’t find another such case in all your 
experience. Pride and poverty go hand in hand, and if a 
woman is too proud to put her children into respectable fami- 
lies, I have little sympathy or pity for her.” 

Shame on you, Mrs. Smith, said half a dozen voices, what 
pride is there in working fourteen to sixteen hours per day. 
Those who help themselves are to be commended, and not to 
be accused of poverty and pride. 

And here Mrs. Foster, a peace-maker, interposed and said 
she was obliged to differ from Mrs. Smith, and agree in the 
main with the other ladies. She had seen a good deal ot the 
world, and believed they all knew Mrs. Hox. She has her 
carriage and postillion, money, equipages, servants, but not a 
chick, and we all know what a fidgety, fussy, uneasy, discon- 
tented body she is; she is never happy, nor willing any 
body else should be, and all that ails her is, she is childless. 
She was naturally a clever woman, but now nothing suits her 
nor ever will. Could she have been been blessed with chil- 
dren she would have been an entirely different woman. Exter- 
nally she has everything she wants, but, in fact nothing. 
Eiches, an elegant mansion, beautiful furniture, fine car- 
riages, horses and servants, are well enough, but then if the 
possessor is still in want of something, which she much de- 
sires and can’t have, of what avail to her are riches, and 
houses and lands — she is destitute. Could she have three, 
daughters, like Mrs. Parks, at the expense of her fine things, 
I have no doubt she would part with them at once, and even 
try to support her children with the needle. 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


29 


I guess she would promise to,” interrupted Mrs. White. 

And Mrs. Dix said she had no doubt Mrs. Hox envied 
Mrs. Parks, more than Mrs. Parks did her. 

I never saw a married woman,” continued Mrs. Foster, 
without children, who enjoyed life. To be married to a man 
and live with him for years without a sunbeam, or the natural 
links which bind husband and wife together, is not natural, 
and hardly endurable. I should rather be an old maid than 
married [and motherless. Some people think it a disgrace 
to be a spinster, but I think single blessedness much prefer- 
able to double blessedness, if the fruit of the union does not 
follow. For my part, I always thought old Hannah was 
right, when she prayed the Lord to take away her disgrace 
among men.” 

Good, Mrs. Foster ! let us have the Bible, and read the 
account,” says Mrs. 'faylor. 

Mrs. Orne catched down the Bible and read as follows : 
“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of 
Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jero- 
ham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an 
Ephrathite ; and he had two wives, the name of the one was 
Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah, and Peninnah 
had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man* 
went up out of his city yearly to worship, and sacrifice unto 
the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh ; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni 
and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to 
Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, por- 
tions. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion, for he 
loved Hannah, but the Lord had shut up her womb. And 
her adversary also provoked her sore for to make her fret, 
because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so 


30 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so 
she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 
Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah why weepest 
thou, and why eatest thou not ? and why is thy heart grieved ? 
Am I not better to thee than ten sons ? 

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and 
after they had drunk : (now Eli the priest sat upon a seat 
by a post of tlie temple of the Lord :) and she was in bit- 
terness of soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore. 
And she vowed a vow, and said, 0 Lord of hosts, if thou 
wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and 
remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but will give 
unto thine handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto 
the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor 
come upon his head. And it came to pass as she continued 
praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now 
Hannah she spake in her heart ; only her lips moved, but 
her voice was not heard ; therefore Eli thought she had been 
drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be 
drunken? Put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah 
answered and said, No, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrow- 
ful spirit ] I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but 
•have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thy 
handmaid for a daughter of Belial, for out of the abundance 
of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 

“ Then Eli answered and said. Go in peace, and the God of 
Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 
And she said. Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. 
So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her counte- 
nance was no more sad. 

" And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped 
before the Lord, and returned and came to their house to 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


31 


Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord 
remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time 
was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare 
a son and called his name Samuel, saying because I have 
asked him of the Lord. And the man Elkanah, and all his 
house went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice and 
his vow. But Hannah went not up ; for she said unto her 
husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then 
I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and 
there abide forever. And Elkanah her husband said unto 
her. Do what seemeth thee good. Tarry until thou have 
weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. 

« So the woman abode and gave her son suck until she 
weaned him. And when she had weaned him she took him 
up with her, with three bullocks and one ephah of flour, and 
a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord 
in Shiloh, and the child was young. And they slew a bul- 
lock and brought the child to Eli, and she said, 0 my Lord, 
as thy soul liveth my Lord, I am the woman that stood by 
thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed, 
and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of 
him. Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord : as long 
as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped 
the Lord there.” 

For a wonder the whole Circle kept silence while Mrs. 
Orne read this chapter. Then they looked at each other, 
but no one said a word. At length Mrs. Bradley said — 

<< I think they had funny times in old Scripture days.” 

Funny times or not,” said Mrs. Orne ; “ I think Hannah 
expressed the feelings of every true woman, and her expres- 
sion of gratitude, praise and thanksgiving, in the next chap- 


32 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


ter, indicate the feelings of all true women under like cir- 
cumstances.” 

Now, Mrs. Orne, as you have got the Bible, I would like 
to hear you read the book of Ruth,” which she did, and there 
was the greatest interest manifested, and the most perfect 
silence ever known in a sewing circle, till the whole was 
finished, when Mrs. Bradley exclaimed, that beat any court- 
ship she ever heard of. And it seemed all new to her, for 
she didn’t believe she had read it in twenty years. Mrs. 
Taylor said it was a very interesting book to her, and she 
had read it when young with so much interest that she 
couldn’t forget it. 

Hannah and Ruth were representative women in the Old 
Testament,” said Mrs. White, " and I don’t wonder their acts 
and history are recorded for our imitation and example.” 

Here Mrs. Dix interposed, and said ladies must defer the 
discussion to the next meeting, though she wished to say she 
had enjoyed the meeting highly, and at the next session she 
would try and give them an account of an eminent and true 
woman, in one of the largest towns in the Commonwealth, 
which she thought a very remarkable case. 

This discussion had taken such a turn that Mrs. Parks and 
her little ones had nearly been forgotten after the first half 
hour, though the whole discussion arose from the interest the 
Circle manifested in the needle-woman. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Ty^HEN we left Mrs. Parks she was preparing to move, 
^ * as we term it in the country. We now find her in a 
house barely tenantable, her furniture all neatly, arranged, 
and every indication of contentment. She prepared Alice 
and Grace for the terra of school which was just commenc- 
ing, and with the care of little Fan, and with the work which 
was daily offered her, she found no time, and she had no 
heart for complaining. She cheerfully did what she could 
to-day, and let the duties of the morrow come in their course 
without any fear or apprehension she should not be able to 
discharge them. There is a great deal of unnecessary com- 
plaining in this life, and many burdens (as they are termed) 
are made heavier by the spirit and temper with which they 
are borne. Life is pleasant to those who feel pleasant. 
The poor can enjoy life, while “ the eye of the rich is never 
satisfied with riches, and there is no end to his labor.” It is 
,not much which the soul wants in this life. Reconciliation 
to the dispensations of Providence will give peace, which 
neither riches, honor nor distinction can impart. 

Many neighbors, as they called and witnessed the constant 
plying of the needle and the cheerful countenance, wondered 
how it could be, but when Alice and Grace returned from 
school, and the mother and her children were together, they 
could have seen the impelling power. Nature has done all 
which is necessary for the preservation of thejspecies,’^ by 
planting in the mother a love which has no fear, and which 
4 


34 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


is bounded only by the endurance of nature itself. Alice 
and Grace were prompt at school, and prompt to return, for 
they wanted to see mother and little Fan more than the toys 
and attractions on the way. They had also many and amus- 
ing incidents to relate, for they observed and remembered 
too, and their mother always listened to what seemed of in- 
terest to them, though it might not have much importance or 
significance in itself. A person at all acquainted with chil- 
dren must have marked how much enjoyment some will derive 
from the little incidents of the day, while others will see 
nothing, and, if possible, know less. These little girls 
seemed' not to let anything pass unnoticed, and when to- 
gether with mother, they would talk by the hour with the 
greatest enjoyment and pleasure. 

A lady once remarked to the writer, that she had been 
greatly amused witnessing how much they had to say when 
they ran home, and how interested they were in everything. 
If they came home from an evening meeting, she said they 
would know every thing that was said, and who said it. Mrs. 
Parks listened to the sayings of her children. She was in- 
terested in everything which interested them ; and in ev^ery- 
thing of interest or importance in the village. She could re- 
joice in the success and prosperity of others, if the hour of 
midnight found her busy completing the work, which she had' 
promised in the morning. 

Many a mother may have wondered why her children were 
not better talkers, little thinking that when they were young 
and they came to her with a story or incident, which to them 
was of much c^^nsequence, she repulsed them in such a way 
that they ran away, and said to themselves, I’ll never tell 
mother anything again. If mothers would have their children 
talk, they must talk with them, and give them their confi- 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


35 


dence. A mother never lost anything by showing her chil“ 
dren that she had confidence in them. The old saw, Little 
pitchers have great ears,” has done more mischief than all 
the pitchers with great ears have been worth for a century. 
Nothing makes children more hidden and disagreeable than 
the habit of distrusting them, and hiding from them in such 
a manner as to convey to their mind the conviction that 
mother has no confidence in them. How many children have 
caught the air of the sweet song of A Bonnie Lass,” when 
in the nursery, and have themselves charmed the world with 
their song, and all because they had a sweet songster in a 
sweet nurse. 

Hours, days, months, years, swiftly pass. To the dil 
igent and industrious they pass pleasantly. If the mind 
and hands be constantly occupied, there is no danger of 
ennui. 

Alice soon began to be of some assistance, while Grace, if, 
given some plain work to do, would be sure to devour every 
book wiihin her reach, before her work was done. There is 
as much difference in children of the same family, as there is 
in the stars of il eaven for magnitude. They may look alike 
but when the astronomer points out their position, their mag- 
nitude, their velocity and power, their difference is apparent, 
while the great mass of the world know not one from the 
other. Alice and Grace had the full advantages of the town 
schools, but they were preparing for different positions, 
though they knew it not. They early began to realize how 
diligently and how constantly their mother worked, and how 
patiently she fitted them for school. They were considerate. 
They seemed to realize how important it was for them to im- 
prove every hour. Example has more power than precept. 


36 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


They could not see their mother at work when they retired at 
night, arid again when they rose in the morning, without 
knowing it was in part for them, neither could they help see- 
ing how gratified their mother was with the weekly reports 
of their teachers, and also in having them say to her : in a 
little while, mother, we shall be out of school, and then yon 
won^t have to work so hard, nor so late.” Years passed. 
There are few incidents in the life of a working-woman which 
can interest the general reader. The duties of to-day do not 
vary much from the duties of to-morrow. Mrs. Parks had re- 
solved what to do, with a full understanding that it could only 
be accomplished with untiring industry, and the strictest econ- 
omy. She would gladly have gratified her daughters with many 
things which they would have enjoyed, but which were not ab- 
solutely necessary for their comfort. 

They early learned their mother was at work for them and 
everything they had she earned, and they considerately re- 
fr^,ined from asking for many things which they desired, be- 
cause they knew it was not in her power to grant them. They 
were thus early trained to habits of economy, as well as dili- 
gence and industry. 

They had now lived in a house for several years which was 
hardly tenantable, but less and less comfortable from year to 
year. Alice and Grace began to feel that their house was 
not fit to live in, and they talked about it to their mother and 
among themselves, and finally concluded they would see their 
early friend and ask his advice about moving into a house, 
the rent of which was considerably more than their present 
tenement. One day when he was on the promenade busily 
talking with some men, he saw, upon the opposite prom- 
enadCj Mrs. Parks and her daughter Grace evidently waiting 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


37 


for some purpose, he thought probably to see him. At the 
earliest convenient moment he crossed to them, when they met 
him with a cheerful Good Morning.” 

Mrs. Parks said We were waiting to see you — the tene- 
ment we occupy is much out of repair, and there is another 
tenement which we can have, but the rent is higher, and 
Grace wanted me to see you, and ask your advice about our 
taking it. The children are earnest to have me move, for they 
think we should enjoy ourselves much better down there, and 
be much more comfortable, but I didn’t like to incur any ad- 
ditional expenses.” 

Take it by all means,” he said, " Mrs. Parks, and I will be 
responsible for any sum you may need to meet your rent.” 

Grace stood by her mother. She listened, she watched every 
leature, but said not a word. Her countenance told the feelings 
of her heart. It spoke volumes* of delight, and her first utter- 
ance as she met Alice and Fanny, was "We are going to 
move.” 

" Oh, I am so glad,” and they clapped their hands with 
such joy as children only can express. Men are oftentimes 
rewarded for their acts in this life. This man could hardly had 
a better reward than the pleasure which he had given others 
that hour. He really enjoyed it, and remembers it to this 
day with the liveliest satisfaction. 

1'he moving was soon over, and the needle was plied hour 
after hour, and day after day with such diligence as would 
astonish most women, and with such endurance as most peo- 
ple believe nature could not sustain. Few people know what 
they can do till they try, and many persons have been sur- 
prised at their success, and the amount of endurance their 
system would sustain. Few people suffer from work — other 


38 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


causes bring suffering. Habits have more to do with it than 
work. The laboring man works his ten hours, the business 
man, the professional man, the man of science and letters find 
fifteen to eighteen hours per day gives them no more time 
than their business or persuits require. Many persons spend 
more time in doing nothing, than they do in doing something, 
and if they were told how much of their time was spent in 
idleness, they would charge the informer with want of ver- 
acity, if not with actual slander. The secret of success is 
diligence, and the reason so many accomplish little or nothing 
is that they spend their time in doing nothing, and before 
they get ready to work their life is spent. 

The needle-woman was untiring. The liours she worked 
would surpass belief, still, she might be found watching in 
the sick chamber oftener than most women, and was ever 
ready to lend a helping hand to those in distress. Had 
she been as some women are, she would have spent half her 
time telling what a hard time she had, and how much she suf- 
ered, and her treasures would have been half fed and half 
clothed. 

She never complained. She had no cause of complaint as 
she saw Alice improving every day, and knew Grace was at 
the head of her class at school, and as little Fan became 
more interesting every day, and of less care. Whit had 
she to complain of? Of work? That never hurts any 
body. That never brings want, penury or misery. That never 
prevents a man from enjoying his meals or a night^s sleep. 
In large cities many needle- wo men may suffer from want of 
adequate compensation for their work, and from unhealthful 
quarters. 

Alice begins to look forward to the time when she shall 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


39 


leave school and help her mother. Grace has been told she 
must prepare herself for a teacher. She comprehends the 
whole meaning and reason of it, and loses no time. Fanny 
is the idol of them all, and she has been running to the prim- 
ary school for a year, and looks for all the world as bright, 
as pretty, as cheerful, as happy as the daughters ot the min- 
ister, the doctor or lawyer. 


/ 


CHAPTER y. 


HEN the Sewing Circle separated, they were comment- 
* * ing on the book of Ruth, and Mrs. Dix promised them 
a story which she knew to be true. In the interval they had 
searched the scriptures some, particularly the old testament, 
some of whom had not read it for years, and the prayer of 
Hannah, and the courtship of Ruth was as new to them as 
the whole Bible is to some learned and scientific men, who 
never read it, and do not know what it teaches. 

They were on tip-toe to hear Mrs. Dix’s story. They were 
fond of entertaining, and of being entertained, and all ex- 
cept Mrs. Smith, who had no children, enjoyed a laugh, a 
joke or a frolic. Sometimes the old lolks will beat the young 
people all hollow in carrying on, and when they once get 
started, they keep on till they are weary, worn and tired. 
We like to see old folks happy, cheerful and gay, and we al- 
ways give a wide berth to a morose old fellow. We occa- 
sionally pass people unnoticed, because they are always 
growling, never satisfied with themselves nor any body else. 
This is a very nice little world to live in, if everybody would 
keep good natured, but some people get rich and become 
top heavy and oppressive. Some are grasping and ugly gen- 
generally, others are purse proud and have no manners, think 
they can look down upon neighbors who have no money, not 
thinking they^can’t ^by^any possibility elevate thamselves to 
the moral and intellectual position which many poor men sus- 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 41 

• 

lain. This is a pleasant world to those who feel pleasant 
and know liow to enjoy it. 

Come Mrs. Dix, you promised us a story at the last meet- 
ing-*' 

1 was a little excited then, and don’t know as I ought to 
tell it.” 

We have your promise.” 

Well, ril tell it, if you will agree it shall go no further.” 

“ Agreed all round.” 

Now what force there is in an agreement not under seal in 
a Sewing Circle, or the Benevolent Society, those can judge 
who are membei's thereof, at any rate we were not parties to 
any such agreement, and didn’t hear Mrs. I)ix or any of the 
Sewing Circle report the story, but we had it from a distin- 
guished lawyer, and every -body knows that they tell the truth 
We have no doubt the story is true. Have you reader? If 
you have I hope you won’t read it, for it is true, and can be 
proved by court and town records. 

Proceed, Mrs. Dix.” 

About one hundred years ago, a woman in New England 
found herself married to an impotent man. She was a young 
woman of brains, of culture, refinement and taste ; she moved 
in the first circles, and was an accomplished lady. To live with 
such a being was more than she could do, it was not in ac- 
cordance with her judgment, her inclination, nor her sense of 
duty or propriety. She applied to counsel and the counsel 
applied to Court for a divorce. The fact appearing, her peti* 
tion was granted, and she was free again. In the course 
of time, another suitor appeared, and she married a man this 
time by whom she had a large number of children, and among 
them four sons, and they became the first men of their day, 
one was an eminent jurist, and for many years occupied a 
5 


42 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


seat upon the bench in one of the first courts in the land. 
Another was a distinguished physician, with a name and rep- 
utation equal to any other man of his day. Another was a 
leading merchant, and had control of the wealth of million- 
aires, and was foremost in the improvement and manufactures 
of the land. Another was a lawyer of abilities, rather eccen- 
tric, ahd adopted some foolish and impracticable notions, 
but notwithstanding was highly esteemed and respected. 
Four more distinguished men cau rarely, if ever, be found 
in one family. . Of her daughters I know nothing personally. 
They married parties of whom I had no acquaintance, but 
have heard they were women of equal abilities with their 
brothers, who were marked men — representative men of their 
day. , They had influence, power, character and position. 
Now do you think this woman did right in making the condi- 
tion of her first husband known, and asking protection and 
separation from him ? ” 

Indeed we do,” shouted the whole Circle. 

Mrs. Orne says, Do you suppose I would live , with a man 
if I could not have children by him ? ” 

What can life be worth,” said Mrs. Taylor, without the 
image, coming, and expanding with grace and beauty and 
love ? ” 

Yes,” said Mrs. White, “ in this case we have evidence 
of the approval of heaven in the eminent men and women 
which were the fruit of the second marriage. Heaven smiles 
upon the obedient.” 

“ I often think what my friend Mrs. Tyng said w’hen she 
had lost two beautiful babes — sons they were,” said Mrs. 
Hayes. “ And when one and another called and condoled 
with her, and told her they were better off and happy in 
heaven. That afforded her no consolation. She wanted to 


THE NEEDI.B-WOMAN. 


43 


Bee those babes, infants, boys, youth, young men, men, and 
after they had acted well their part in this life, they would 
be better fitted to praise God in the life to come. She had 
the heart of a woman, and expressed the feelings of a moth- 
er.” 

Indeed she did,” said Mrs. Upton. There is only one 
way to live in this life. The Creator has pointed out that 
way, and it is our duty to walk therein. Life has its cares, 
its pleasures, and its pains. We cannot have one without 
the other, and if there is anj^ pleasure in this life, the sweet- 
est, the purest, the best, is associated with our children, who 
endear life to us all.!’ 

“With joy unfeif n’d, brothers and sisters meet, 

An’ each for other’s welfare kindly spiers : 

The social hours, swift wing’d unnotic’d fleet. 

Each tells the unco that he sees or hears. 

The parents partial eye their hopeful years. 

Anticipation forward points the view. 

“ Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing, 

That thus they all shall meet in future days, 

U'hei’e ni ver bask in uncreated rays, 

No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear. 

Together hymning their Creator’s praise, 

In such society, yet still more dear, 

W hile circling time moves round in an eternal sphere,” 


CHArrER VI. 


/\N the promenade, one beautiful day in June, Mrs. Taylor 
^^met Mrs. Hale : Good-morning, Mrs. Hale ; a very 
pleasant morning,” 

Yes, a pleasant morning to those who feel pleasant,” says 
Mrs. Hale. 

Mrs. Taylor was a bright, intelligent woman, kind, benev- 
olent, thinking no evil, ready to give a helping hand in case 
of need ; one of those women everybody likes, because she 
likes everybody. Of Mrs. Hale, the reader may judge. She 
had an elegant mansion, splendid furniture, a cariage, horses, 
fine clothes, money. 

Mrs. Hale, how do you do ?” 

I’m sick, this morning I had no appetite. I was at the 
table, but I didn’t eat anything. I told Mr. Hale I would 
have the carriage and ride down in town ; and here I am lan- 
guid, irresolute and miserable !” 

Why Mrs. Hale I” says Mrs. Taylor, ^^You ought not to 
be so I You have everything, no children, and nothing to do 
but enjoy yourself. , 

" Enjoyment 1 I don’t know what it means,” said Mrs. 
Hale. " I am going home to dinner, but I don’t believe I 
can eat the least thing. Then I shall take a lounge — per- 
haps fall asleep — then order the carriage ; and at tea, sip a 
little, perhaps eat a little, and after tea perhaps Mr. Smith- 
will call and talk politics with my husband till ten o’clock — 
then I will go to my room ; and in the morning find myself 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


45 


as I did this morning with nothing to do and no motive to 
do it;’ 

Indeed, Mrs. Hale, I think you make your case worse 
than it is. I don’t think you are in very good spirits this 
morning.” 

And here comes Mrs. Parks, the needle-woman, who imme- 
diately says : Good-morning ladies, a beautiful morning. 
How do you do, Mrs. Hale?” 

0, I am miserable I” 

How are your little girls ?” says Mrs. Taylor. 

0, they are very well. Alice and Grace are at school 
and I left little Fan at home, while I ran up in town for a 
few minutes.” 

AVhen Mrs. Hale says I believe your daughters are doing 
very well at school.” 

I hope so.” says Mrs. Parks. 

Yes,” says Mrs. Taylor, my daughters are very fond of 
them, and everybody seems to be glad they are doing so 
well. They must be a great comfort to you.” 

Yes, ladies ; I shouldn’t know what to do without them. 
I am glad to meet you, ladies, but [ must be at my work. 
Good-morning.” And she trips along on the side-walk with 
the elasticity of a girl of fifteen summers. She recognizes 
whomsoever she meets with a pleasant smile, and in a mo- 
ment she is plying her needle, having been much refreshed by 
her morning walk. 

She was hardly gone before Mrs. Hale exclaims " How 
does that poor woman live ?” 

" Why, she lives by her needle, Mrs. Hale. How bright 
she looks ! I shouldn’t- think she had any care, or was ever 
weary. Mrs. Hale, she works till ten, eleven and sometimes 
twelve o’clock at night ; and then, in the morning, she will 


46 


THE NEEDLE -WOMAN. 


have her daughters ready for school in season, neat and tidy, 
happy and bright as the morning!^’ 

'<Well, I don't sec how she does it.” says Mrs. Hale. 

But perhaps, if I had her health, 1 told Mr. 

Hale this morning that if I didn^t feel any better, I must go 
to the Beach, the Mountains or the Springs, where there was 
something to excite, to interest me,” 

I believe you go every year, Mrs. Hale.” 

Yes, but tliis going to such places is just like everything 
else ; after a while it becomes a monotonous way of living. 
Fashion is the greatest tyrant in the world ; and she has the 
most subjects to do her reverence. It is fashionable to go to 
the Springs, the sea-shore and the Mountains. But what is 
fashion at such places — gayety, frivolity, dress, equipage, 
great men and little men, women dressed in silks and satins, 
ornamented with gold and diamonds, mothers marketing 
their daughters, — and when the excitement of the hour pass- 
es — what is it but mere vacancy ! !” 

“ Indeed is it so, Mrs. Hale ?” said Mrs. Taylor. I never 
find time for such places. My little ones keep me busy, and 
Mr. Taylor’s business is such, he can’t leave it for fashionable 
resorts.” 

“ Well, I sometimes wish” said Mrs. Hale, ^^I had never 
seen the Beach, the Springs or the mountains. I have seen 
fashionable people, pleasure-going people, people of caste 
and people of no caste, — the millionaire and the destitute — 
and there is not much difference ; and if ever I envied any 
body, it is Mrs. Parks, with her three sunbeams, as she calls 
them. Then if I could walk home so quick, with such ( las- 
ticity and firmness as she did, Billy and the carriage might 
leave ^ for parts unknown ’ and I should never inquire for 
him. She has three daughters ; and she provides for them 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


47 


and herself with her needle; and when you’meet her or go 
, there with work, she never seems weary, languid or cast 
down, but she speaks so cheerfully and she is always so 
ready to work and appears so pleased, that it does one good 
to see her.” 

It is so, Mrs. Hale, and I think things arc pretty equally 
divided in this life; some seem to have everything but really 
have nothing, and others have nothing and seem to possess 
everything. It is later than T supposed it was, Mrs. Hale, 
and 1 must bid you good-morning.” 

Good-morning, Mrs. Taylor.” Billy opened the carriage 
door and Mrs. Hale crept in and he drove her home — she 
hardly knew why ! 

Mrs. Taylor walks slowly along and thinks aloud : In- 

deed,” she talks to herself and says, some people don’t en-i 
joy anything; Mrs. Parks lives for her children — she works 
for them, she eats for them, she sleeps for them and she talks 
and laughs with them — and her life is pleasant, her food is 
sweet and her sleep, refreshing; she has an object, a motive, 
a purpose; at night her work is done, in the morning it be- 
gins. Mrs. Hale gees to bed because it is mid-night; she ris- 
es in the morning because the bell rings; she dresses because 
company may call; she rides because she has not energy 
enough to walk ; she goes to the Springs because she enjoys 
nothing at home; she goes t'o the Mountains because she is 
tired of the Springs, and she goes to the Ocean because she 
has no taste for mountain scenery, and she goes home be- 
cause she has no where else to go. And thus her life passes, 
without an object, without a purpose. She does not live — 
she only stays around. Active life is full of enjoyment ; it 
nourishes, it cherishes, it sustains itself.” And here Mrs* 
Taylor finds the door open and her husband and children 


48 


lUE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


waiting for her and wondering why she staid so long. She 
says she was detained by Mrs. Hale, which satisfies them all* 

No one found fault or complained at her house for sun- 
shine reigned there. She was happy at home, she was hap- 
py at the sewing-circle, she was happy at church,- she was 
happy everywhere, and consequently everybody was happy 
where she was. The heart of her husband doth safely 
trust in her” and her children rise up and call her blessed.” 

Since writing the above we took up a paper and read the 
following words, and we liked them so well, we copy them 
here, not knowing the author : Many a child goes astray,, 
not because there is want of prayer or virtue at home, but 
simply because home lacks sunshine. A child needs smiles 
as much as flowers need sunbeams. Children look little be. 
yond the present moment: if a thing pleases, they are apt to 
seek it : if it displeases, they are prone to avoid it. If home 
is the place where faces are sour and words harsh, and fault- 
finding is ever in the ascendant, they will spend as many 
hours as possible elsewhere. Let every father and mother 
then, try to be happy ; let them talk to their children, especi- 
ally the little ones, in such a way as to make them happy.” 

Here is developed the secret and misery in families. Here 
too, is the reason why boys never want to stay at home even- 
ings ; and here, also, why they prefer home to any other 
place. When a house is covered with clouds and darkness, 
no wonder the young avoid it ; but when sunshine enters the 
doors, windows and every crevice in the house, the young 
find no place so agreeable, so pleasant, so delightful as home. 


CHAPTER TII. 


Ti^RS. Hale, Mrs, Parks, and Mrs. Taylor met on th^ 
promenada. Mrs. Parks hurried home to her work ; 
Mrs. Taylor met her happy family, always glad to sec her ; 
and Mrs. Hale rode off in her carriage In a few days Mrs, 
Hale went to the Springs — but she was Mrs. Hale there. 
The place was changed, but not the mind or heart. She had 
been at home a few days, when Billy was ordered to hare 
the carriage ready, and she rode down and around town, 
with no particular object, but faintly hoping something might 
attract her attention which would interest her, and with a 
sort of Tacant stare she looked out of the carriage window 
and saw Mrs* Parks tripping along the sidewalk with her 
usual elasticity* She ordered Billy to stop the carriage and 
call her, and Mrs. Hale, after the usual salutations of the 
morning, and after inquiring for her health and the health of 
her daughters, said to her : 

Now, Mrs. Parks, I have been to the Springs — I have 
seen rich people — women covered with rings and diamonds, 
but I have seen no woman like you. I enjoyed being at the 
Springs a few days, but then it is only a whirl of excitement 
without any permanent satisfaction, and I am now, as I was 
before I left home^ without any appetite, listless, lifeless, mis- 
erable. Now do tell me how it is you look so bright, walk 
so quickly, and always appear so cheerful and happy.*^ 

Mrs. Parks looked at her with amazement, but her reply 
was ready and to the poinL 


50 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Come down/’ said she, and take a needle wiih me from 
daylight till dark^ till ten, eleven, and sometimes twelve 
o’clock at night, and I guess you would find a walk such a 
morning as this pleasant, and you would not care so much 
what you had for dinnei*, as you would to he sure you had 
enough of it. Those girls with which God blessed me, stim- 
ulate me to exertion, and T have great reason to be happy, 
grateful, that they* have been Spared to me. Thfey will soon 
be in a condition to relieve me. I int^d Alice shall' leave 
school at the end of this term, and I expect Grace will enter 
the Bigh School, and I hope she will soon be able to assist 
me in educating Fanny, whom I want to have a first-rate 
education. You know^, Mrs. Hale, the greatest ambition of 
New England mothers is to educate their children, and I 
confess to having a full share of this ambition.” 

^‘Indeed Mrs. Parks/’ says Mrs. Hale, I don’t see how 
ybu have succeeded the last four or five years in sustaining' 
yourself and your daughters, as you have.” 

Mrs. Hgle you know God helps them, who helps them- 
selves. He never seems to have anything to do with the indo- 
lent and idlers. Alter Mr. Parks died I confess I had some 
anxiety, but then I lost no time, and I now feel a good degree 
of confidence that J shall succeed in bringing up my daugh- 
ters respectably^ and I hope and trust I shall never regret the 
efforts 1 have made for them.” 

“I don’t think you will, Mrs. Parks. Alice is a very 
good scholar, and I understand Grace is the first scholar in 
her class.” 

Alice is my oldest, Mrs. Hale, and I had to call on her 
for many little things, which took her attention from her 
books ; and I think she has done as well as any one could 
under the circumstances. She for the last year has helped 


THE NEEDLE-W0M4N. 


51 


me much.- If I set Grace to do anything, I find her with a 
book at her side, and she’ll do it, as soon as she has finished 
this part of the book, or her lesson, and I don’t trouble her 
much, for her education will be worth more to her and to me 
than the little she can do for nie now. So long as I hear 
good reports of her from school, I have not a heart to divert 
her attention from her books.” 

You know, Mrs. Parks, Mrs. Smith wanted you to put 
your children out (as the term is) into good families.” 

Mrs. Parks looked down either grieved or indignant, we 
thought a little of both, but in a moment she rallied and calm- 
ly said: Mrs. Smith has no children. Such women can 
coolly calculate how much better children would be in other 
families, and think it easy for a mother to part with them, 
but then I don’t think I could have done it. It was a great 
trial to lose my husband in mid-life, and had’nt it been for my 
little ones to engage my sympathies, my affections, and to 
stir my energies within me, I must have sunk under it, but 
they have buoyed me up, and we have been able to keep to- 
gether, and 1 trust we shall till they are able to take care of 
themselves.” 

Here Mrs. Parks said Mrs. Hale must excuse her, she 
left little Fanny at horn alone, and she was seldom away 
so long when Fanny was alone. 

Fanny was overjoyed when her mother arrived. She had 
been to the door a dozen times to see if mother was not com- 
ing, and wondered why she staid so long. 

In a few months Alice left school, and Grace entered the 
High School on her marks, or merits, as it is termed. It is 
customary for the teacher of the Grammar School to mark 
the standing of her pupils, and at the end of the year those 
who have the necessary mark^ enter the High School, while 


62 


THE iVKEl^LB-WOMAN, 


Others must be examined, and if their examination is satis- 
factory, they are admitted. 

Mrs. Parks was pleased that Grace was one of the few who 
merited admission to the High School, and she told her she 
wanted her to .fit herself for a teacher, to which Grace re- 
plied she would do her best. 

The girls had always been the companion of their mother^ 
They knew she had worked hard for them, and they had’nt a 
heart to disobey or displease her. But Mrs. Parks was not 
without her trials. Girls at school form acquaintances and 
sometime attachments which grow and ripen with their years, 
and which are often productive of the most lasting and per- 
manent happiness. Persons thus interested in each other will 
often strive to conduct themselves so as to be approved by 
each other. Young men are often kept from places and com- 
pany which would be injurious to them by the attentions and 
affections of a pure minded sister or friend. 

Alice could not help being acquainted with the lads at 
school and in the village, and it was not surprising at all, 
that one of them should show her marked attention, but he 
was not after the heart of her mother. Some mothers might 
have been pleased with him. Mrs. Parks was a woman of 
discrimination and judgment, and she told Alice she must not 
receive any attentions from John Russ. Alice would not of- 
fend her mother for all the Russes in Christendom. She loved 
her mother, and Grace and Fanny. How could she help it ? 
Had’nt her mother endeared herself to her by every tie of 
nature, and had’nt she witnessed her love for her by her ef- 
forts by day and by night for her, and were not they all one ? 
Had they any purpose or desires except for each other? 
People in moderate circumstances often become devoted to 


THE KEIDLE-WOMAJI. 


6S 


each other^ while the rich as often quarrel about their inheri- 
tance and many times become enemies. 

Mrs. Parks and her daughters had but one interest, one 
purpose, one motive. Mrs. Parks was always right in 
their eyes, and from her advice and counsel there was 
MO dissent or appeal. So Mr. Russ’ attentions were grace- 
fully declined, but his mother was not easily pacified. She 
was a high-spirited woman, and she couldn’t see why her 
son was not as good as Alice Parks, and her mother, his 
grandmother, joined with her. The old lady was vindictive. 
She was one of those women who are never satisfied — not 
reconciled. She didn’t know but one honest man in her old 
age, and that is more than many people know. She, with 
Mrs. Russ, commenced a storm, which might have given Mrs. 
Parks much trouble and anxiety. They did not hesitate to 
do and say much, which was intended to disturb the equan- 
imity of Mrs. Parks. But people in the right always have 
the advantage, while people in the wrong labor under great 
diflSculties, which increase with the wrong-doing. 

Up to this time Mrs. Parks had not an enemy. The 
whole village were her friends ; consequently Mrs. Russ had 
no sympathy. She annoyed Mrs. Parks somewhat, and added 
to her care, but we don’t choose to acquaint the reader with 
the means she used, because the reader can judge what wo- 
men do when their pride is touched, and they can’t help 
themselves. Suffice it to say, she and her mother soon found 
they were kicking against the pricks, and they soon gave up 
the chase with thorns in their feet. Mrs. Russ soon recov- 
ered from her disappointment, but the old lady felt the thorns 
in her feet to the day of her death. The sequel was proof 
of Mrs. Parks’ judgment and discrimination. 

At another time, Grace came home from school and said 


54 


• lUfi NEEDLE- WOMAN. 


bhe had been iuvited to Joatuia IJ all’s to a party, and she 
was going. Her mother looked up surprised. If you are 
willing, mother, was omitted entirely. Somehow she left 
that important part of the sentence off. Whether she had a 
presentiment or fear that her mother would not approve of 
her going to the party, and thus took upon herself the re- 
sponsibility of deciding for herself, cannot now be told. 

] [er mother calmly replied, No, my daughter, T think it not 
best for you to go to her party. Grace went to her ch unber, 
and in a few minutes returned, and seating herself upon the 
floor, proclaimed aloud that she was going to Joanna Hall’s 
party. “ I will go.” 

Here was some determination — some defiance, even. It 
was unusual. But her mother said, No, my daughter, I 
think you had better not go.” Grace says, “ Yes, I will go.” 
Here was danger of a conflict. There was no time for ex- 
citement. Mrs. Parks knew her daughter better than she 
knew herself. She laid aside her work, and said to her. 

You know, Grace, I am willing to indulge you in every- 
thing I can, but it is important you should be particular in 
selecting your associates, and Joanna Hall is not a proper 
person for you to select as a friend or intimate. She will 
have such company as you know is not suitable for you, and 
it would afford me great pleasure to have you go to her par- 
ty, if T could think it would promote your happiness, but I 
think if you go, you will not like the company nor enjoy it. 
I don’t like to say anything against any person, but you know 
how Joanna has her own way, — is not properly restrained, 
and seeks such company as you would not, with my appro- 
bation.” She then named several parties who would be 
there, rude, coarse and uncultivated. ‘‘I know Joanna well. 
I have seen her at her mother’s. She has been indulged to 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 5 5 

heV injury. I know her character, taste and disposition. Her 
mother has no control over her. She is a wild, heedless girl, 
and by no means fit for an. associate for you. ^ It would be a 
pleasure to gratify you, Alice, and I would not deny you un- 
less from a sense of ray duty to you. I should be anxious 
and distressed all the afternoon, if I knew you were at her 
party. You must yield, my dear, to the wishes of your 
mother. If you love me, Alice, you will hear to me.” 

Alice rose, went to her chamber and her books, and said 
not another word about Joanna or her party. She compre- 
hended her mother’s objections. She cheerfully yielded. The 
thought she was there against the wishes of her mother, 
would deprive her of all ability to eng^^ge in the plays, the 
sports or the pleasures of the afternoon. She respected — 
she loved her mother, and her smile was worth more to her 
than the pleasures of an afternoon and evening party with 
any — with all the town. In after years she loved her mother 
more, if possible, for her counsel, her advice, her denial. 
Such is usually the judgment of riper years. We seldom 
hear an adultfcomplain that proper discipline was adminis- 
tered to him in his youth, while bitter has been the experi- 
ence. and severe and crushing the condemnation by the child 
of the parent who fostered his self-indulgence and left him 
unrestrained, till the prison, the gallows, the judgment, were 
upon him. The greatest enemy to a child is self-indulgence, 
unrestrained passions or uncontrolled gratification. Parents 
often do not like to deny a child pleasures, which seem inno- 
cent, but which they would avoid and eschew if counsel were 
given them in kindness and love. 

How often has the heart of a parent sank within him when 
told by the child, you ought to have taught me better. 0, 
that I had told my child better, often has a parent exclaimed. 


56 


TKJt MBBDL&-W0M11I. 


when witnesaing his degradation, his ruin ; while many bless* 
ings have followed the parents who, with prudence, with cau- 
tion and discretion, have administered reproof, and properly 
restrained and controlled their children 


CHAPTER VJII. 



RACE had entered the High School. She knew that 


her mother expected much of her, and that she looked 
forward with a good deal of interest to the day when she 
too would relieve her, and sustain herself and more too. 
Alice had left school young, that she might assist her mother 
in the support of Grace and Fanny. It must occur to the 
reader that the expenses of Mrs. Parks increased with the 
age of her daughters. It was therefore a great relief to 
have Alice to assist her, but we never know what will be on 
the morrow. Man proposes, God disposes. He smiles too 
upon and blesseth the widow and the fatherless. 

In New England, towns are often divided into districts, 
and the stranger has often wondered for what use those one- 
story wooden buildings, 24x30 feet, were, which they saw at 
the corner of the streets every three or four miles, and when 
told they were school-houses, where the a, b, c’s were taught 
the Adamses, the Warrens, the Hancocks, the Parsonses, the 
Storys, the Lincolns, the Jacksons, the Spragues, the Shaws, 
the Cushings, the Websters, — jurists and statesmen,- — and 
the Edwardses, the Griffins, the Dwights, the Hopkinses, the 
Paysons, the Adamses, and Beechers, — divines of New Eng- 
land, — with many others of eminence and distinguished use- 
fulness ; they have passed along reflecting upon and com- 
mending the wisdom of the Puritans and the faith of the 
Protestants. 


THE NBEDLE-TTOMAN. 


fi8 


In one of these* New England towns, where groves and 
fields alternate, where hill and dale give variety and beauty 
to the scenery, where the brjooks wind through the valleys, 
and the trout sport in the morning sun and hide under the 
little cascades at the approach of the boys with their pin 
hooks, where the rosy cheek and sparkling eye give evidence 
of health and intellect, and where the boys and girls rise 
every morning with the rising sun in freshness and beauty, a 
young man had been elected by the fathers a committee to 
employ a school teacher and look after the prudential affairs 
of the district. If there was a suitable person in the dis- 
trict it was customary to offer her the school, dtherwise seek 
one at a distance. In one of the High Schools in one of the 
large towns of New England, one April morning was heard 
a loud rap on the door, and Samuel Knox was bidden to 
open the door, when George Nye appeared and bid the Prin- 
cipal good morning, and immediately said he was school 

committee in village, and he wanted to hire a person to 

teach their summer school, and he came here to ask him to 
recommend some one as a teacher for them. 

The Principal made some inquiries about the size and 
character of the school, and then looked over his list, and 
when his eye reached Alice Parks’ name, he stopped. He 
knew something of the industry of her mother, as well as 
her circumstances and condition. He looked to Grace, and 
in a moment asked her if Alice would probably like to take 
the school, and she replied she thought she would, and the 
Principal said he would recommend her. Grace’s eyes 
flashed, and her countenance told with how much interest and r 
pleasure she heard the Principal recommend Alice. George 
took the name, the number and the street, and with a regular 
country bow, and with an open and honest thank you sir, he 
closed the door. 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


59 


In a few minutes he was in River Street and rang the bell 
at the house of Mrs. Parks, and with such force that it started 
Mrs. Parks, and she said to Alice, ^^jdo open the door and don't 
let that man pull the bell again, for if he does he may part the 
wire or take the bell with him.” Alice dropped her work and 
opened the door, and there stood a good looking young man, 
who inquired if Miss Parks was within. Alice replied yes, 
and showed him into the work-room and went to her cham- 
ber for a moment. She supposed he meant her mother, so 
little distinction is usually made in the pronunciation of Mrs. 
and Miss. 

George looked around and said “ are you Miss Parks ?” 

Yes, sir.” 

“ Well then, I am school committee in the District No. 1, 

in the village of about ten miles from here, and I came 

down to see the Principal of the High School, and he recom- 
mended to me Miss Alice Parks, but I thought she was a 
young woman.” 

Mrs. Parks suppressed a smile and inquired about the 
school, the number of scholars, the wages, the term of the 
school, etc. etc. 

He at once lighted up and assumed all the consequence 
necessary for a Prime Minister of England and said the 
number of scholars would not exceed thirty, wages four dol- 
lars per week and board, and term three months, perhaps 
four, but said he we want a young woman.” 

Mrs. Parks laughed and said she supposed her daughter 
Alice was the person recommended by the Principal of the 
High School, I will call her.” 

When Alice appeared his countenance changed. He recog- 
nized the young lady who opened the door, and he was pleased 
with her appearance. 


60 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Mrs. Parks said, this is my daughter, and she is thinking 
of taking a school this summer.” 

She is ypuug.” 

Yes sir, she is seventeen.” 

Well, that is a good age. When I was seventeen I was 
as smart as white oak.” Mrs. Parks and Alice smiled, and 
he said, I could cut my swarth with any man, and work from 
daylight till dark. Some old people may think seventeen too 
young, but I don’t, aad the High School man spoke so well of 
your daughter, that I am ready to hire her.” 

Well, Alice, what do you think about it,” said her mother. 
^^The school is not very large.” 

" I don’t know, I will do what you think best.” 

You may act your pleasure about it. Perhaps as you 
want to keep school you won’t have a better opportunity.” 

^^You say, sir, you will pay four dollars per week and 
board, and the term will be three, perhaps four months.” 

Do you pay expenses up ?” 

I don’t think we do, we have usually had a teacher in the 
village, and that matter has never been a part of the wages, 
but I guess I will venture to pay your fare, unless some of us 
should be down, then you could ride up without expense.” 

Well, if you think best mother, I will venture to engage 
it I have been to and I think it a very pleasant place.” 

Yes, we think it pleasant, and it is very healthful.” 

When will your school begin ?” 

The first Monday in May.” 

I shall have to go up Saturday, then.” 

Yes, and I will pay your fare up, or send for you. Let 
us see, the first Monday in May we farmers are pretty busy, 
and it may be inconvenient to come down at that time, so you 
may take the stage Saturday, and call at Parson . Kelly’s, 


s 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


61 


and he will inform you where to go, and I’ll have all matters 
arranged, and perhaps meet you there.” 

Mrs. Parks kept her needle running, for she had long since 
learned to work and talk at the same time. 

The young’ man was pleased with the appearance of both 
Mrs. Parks and her daughter, and he rather liked it that he 
was introduced into the work-room and not into the parlor, 
and he went on to say he was twenty-one last January, and 
they chose him committee the first meeting after he was 
twenty-one, and he felt a little proud of it, and he hoped they 
would be satisfied. 

Alice said she would do the best she could. 

Well I guess you will do well. That High School man 
thought you would do first rate, he wouldn’t recommend any- 
body else till I had seen you, and I guess he hit right the first 
time.” 

Mrs. Parks laughed, Alice smiled and blushed, when George 
said — 

Seems to me you is pretty smart with that needle, I guess 
you have sewed some before to-day.” 

“ 0 yes,” says Mrs. Parks, I have taken a good many 
stitches in my day.” 

Well, you is smarter than our folks, though we call our- 
selves pretty smart.” 

Mrs. Parks and Alice had hard work to suppress a broad 
laugh, when George says, 

“ I can always tell when father hires a man whether he is 
good for anything or not, as soon as I see him handle the 
farm tools, and I think you handle that needle pretty cute.” 

It is a great deal in use, sir.” 

<^So it is in everything. Well I guess I must be going, 
you will be on hand now, Miss ” 


62 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Yes sir, I’ll be there Saturday before the first Moijday in 
May.’’ 

Then Alice shew him the door very civilly, and he bid her 
good-day and departed. 

Alice and her mother now made up for all the laughing 
they had suppressed, when Mrs. Parks said — 

" He is an honest fellow, I have no doubt.” 

In a few minutes Grace came rushing into the room, and 
cried out, 

" Mother, has there been a man here to hire Alice to keep 
school?” 

Alice had just gone up stairs. Her mother said — 

Yes. Where is she ? ” 

Is she going ? ” 

And before her mother could reply she was up stairs, and 
told Alice what the master said to her, and how pleased she 
was, and they talked about school-keeping, going away from 
home, and how soon she should be old enough to keep school. 
It was too bad that her mother had to work so hard for 
them. She meant to study all she could, and she didn’t be- 
lieve but what she could get through the High School in two 
years, though three years was the usual term. 

You know, Alice, those girls up there don’t study as you 
and I do, and I can keep ahead of them all the time.” 

I hate to go away from home, Grace,” said Alice. But 
I think we ought to do our best, for certainly mother has 
done her best for us. Little Fan is growing up fast, and she 
is a bright little scholar, and mother wants her to have a first 
rate education, and I hope she will.” 

The girls were now summoned to dinner, and Fan cried 
out as she saw Grace — 

" There has been a man here and hired Alice to go and 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


63 


keep school. I heard all they said, though I didn’t say a 
word. I didn’t go to school this forenoon, because I didn’t 
feel very well.” 

I am sorry you wasn’t well, Fanny.” 

Well, I am better now, and I am going to school this af- 
ternoon.” 

At dinner Alice told Grace all the committee-man said and 
did, and they enjoyed it hugely. Mrs. Parks could but laugh 
when Alice came to the white oak, and her sewing. Grace 
joined with her, and they had rather a merry dinner that 
day. Fanny laughed with the others, and said she guessed 
that man liked Alice pretty well. They all looked at her 
and smiled. Grace heard the school-bell, and she was in her 
seat in time. 

She had no sooner met the eye of her teacher, than he 
went to her and asked her what success the young man had 
with Alice. She told him the whole story. He said he was 
pleased, and that Alice would make a good teacher. Grace 
was pleased, and commenced preparation for her afternoon 
exercises with more than usual diligence. . 

It is hardly worth while to detain the reader with the 
account of the next four weeks spent in this family. At the 
appointed day Alice was ready. The parting for the first 
time was a little sad, though they told Alice to be of good 
cheer. A kiss, good morning, and a look, and the stage took 
Alice to her new duties, new cares, and new work. In the 
mean time, George had called at the minister’s on his return, 
and gave him an account of his success, and he felt his im- 
portance as he never had before, and as he never will again. 
As soon as he got home, and had finished his supper, he told 
his sister Mary what great things he had done. She laughed 
at him, and he went to bed. 


64 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Before the time arrived, however, George had made all 
the arrangements for the school, and instructed the stage- 
driver where to call for the teacher, and where to leave her 
to board the first week. Now I suppose the reader must 
know that in some of the districts in New England, it was 
• customary for the teacher to board round — that is. one week 
with Mrs. Sargent, one week with Mrs. Jones, and thus nearly 
every family would give the district the board of the teacher 
one week, and all the school-money — that is, all the money 
raised by taxation for the support of schools — would be ap- 
plied to pay the teachers and incidental expenses, and in this 
way the school would be protracted one month or more. It 
was not so pleasant for the teacher sometimes, but they gen- 
erally fared better than they would at one house. Women 
are sometimes a little ambitious. Each family must provide 
for the teacher as well as her neighbor, and the best the house 
could aflbrd. 

But it was difficult for the teacher to navigate around the 
shoals of a school district without giving offence, but Alice 
had seen many women, who came to her mother to have work 
done, and who occasionally had a word to say about their 
neighbors, but it didn’t do any hurt if not repeated, and she 
had from her childhood been instructed not to repeat any- 
thing she might hear Mrs. Chase or Mrs. Nichols say against 
others, and she could hear what each one had to say about 
the minister’s children and others, and not remember a word 
of it to repeat. 


CHArrER JX. 


p)ERHAPS the most embarrassing hour with the teacher is the 
first hour, or day, at church — when the whole congrega- 
tion seem to gaze upon the stranger teacher — and the safest 
way is to fix the eye upon the preacher and listen to every 
word. Alice made up her mind when she went to church to 
give her whole attention to the preacher, and not see others 
looking at her. This was an easy task and she did it to 
perfection. 

On the return from church, little was said about the ser- 
mon— but one and another had a word to say about the 
school-teacher. Mrs. Kent said, Parson Kelly had one hear- 
er to-day that fixed her attention on him/’^ Mrs. Vose said 
she looked towards the teacher, and she seemed to look the 


minister in the eye, and 1 guess he won’t complain of one of 
his hearers to-day 1” 

For my part,” said Mrs. Todd, I wanted to see what 
kind of a looking teacher we had; you know, Mrs. Vose, we 
can judge something by the looks and appearance.” 

Yes, we can ;” replied Mrs. Vose, and I formed a very 
favorable opinion of her. Her appearahce indicated that 
shd had been in good society, and I think her manners and 
conduct in church were very much’ in her favor.” 

"Yes, my little girls could not keep th!eir eyes ofl of her, 
aiid I reckon they will have a lesson on manners and behav- 
iof in church and I shall make the school-teacher the found- 


ation of my remarks, (inly last year, a'strangcr was visil^- 


9 


66 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


ing here, and she came to cliurch with her silks and satins 
and her trail and ribbons and gewgaws, and she looked and 
appeared ridiculously, if not contemptibly, and I was dis- 
gusted with her. She looked all about the church, evidently 
to see who was looking at her. She appeared as vain, a^ 
light and trifling as the gewgaws and butterflies about her 
head. I would have called on her, out of politeness to my 
friend, Mrs. Page, but I concluded I didn’t want her acquain- 
tance. It is strange some people think they can appear in 
church as they can in a ball-room, or at a cotillon party I 
The church is no place in which to make a sensation, and 
those persons who have so little sense of propriety as to at- 
tempt it, only prove that they are empty, giddy and senseless 
and know nothing of the proprieties of life. Our teacher 
was dressed plain, neat and well, and she conducted herself 
with propriety ; I couldn’t but contrast her dress and appear- 
ance with that fashionable gewgaw lady, who was here last 
summer. If she was a fair sample of fashionable ladies, I am 
glad they so seldom enter our church. Uncle Jerry used to 
say there was propriety in all things, — and there is propriety 
in going to church arrayed in modest apparel, and not in pur- 
ple and fine linen.” 

I wonder how these ladies, arrayed in their long trails 
and embroidery, feel, when they unite with the minister 
in asking the Lord to " clothe them with humility, as with a 
garment what kind of an article of humility would that be 
which is compared to their purple, and silks and ribbons? 
and again, ^^help us to take our proper places in the dust, be- 
fore Thee 1” how would their long trails, and silks and satins 
with low necks and bare bosoms appear in the dust before 
the Lord 1 What show would they make, and how would 
their prayer be regarded by the “ searcher of hearts,” who 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN”. 


61 


knoweth all things ? As me that mocketh? And when the 
poor, humble and penitent Christian appears before the Lord 
to commemorate His undying love, and as he sees, with an 
eye of faith, his beloved Redeemer crucified and slain for him, 
how do these sinners in gorgeous robes appear? They think 
they are Christians ; perhaps they are, — but then they chill 
the humble Christian. Their light is darkness — and bow 
great is that darkness ! and their salt is withnit savour!’ 

We have switched ofiP^’ again; one thought suggests an- 
other, and we find ourselves out of sight of our needle-wo- 
man and her daughters ; but Alice was shown the school-room 
by George, who had everything in readiness ; the little ones 
came in and selected their seats and gave their names, and 
Alice gave them their lessons, — and in an hour or two, the 
school was in good running order. It was not many days 
before Alice could call all the children by name, and tliey 
read and prepared their spelling lessons and did just as the 
reader did and other children, when they were little ones and 
went to school. 

It is customary for the minister to visit the school during 
the first or second week of the term and make such remarks 
as he deems fitting the occasion. The minister was so well 
pleased with the appearance of the teacher at church, that he 
was prepared to be equally pleased with her and her school, 
and though he could not well judge of the school the first 
week, he was so well satisfied that he was ready almost 
to guarantee its success this summer; he probably would, 
hadn’t he been a minister of great propriety. He, however, 
ventured to congratulate George on his success, which eleva- 
ted him a little higher than he was the other night, when he 
went to bed. Alice had a little pride, a little ambition, a 
good deal of character, and she determined to do her best, 


63 THB NKEDLB-WOMAS. 

and as the children returned home, the parents like(J their 
account of the teacher, and as stie left family after family, 
week after week, she left friends, and no one to criticise her 
manners, habits or character. The children soon Ipegan to 
tell how they liked the teacher, and if the children Uked, the 
mother did, also. It is but a little way from the heart of ^he 
child to the heart of the mother. 

Four weeks had now passed, and though they had been 
long weeks to Alice, they were full of interest. George’s 
duty as Committee was to furnish water-pail, dipper and 
broom, see that the glass was mended and keep the house in 
repair. To all these duties he was faithful, and he thus be- 
came necessarily acquainted with the teacher ; in tact, she 
was instructed to call on him for books for the poor children 
and other necessaries of the school room. It was customary 
for people who lived within ten or twelve miles of the town 
to visit it once in four or five weeks, to purchase many nec- 
essaries which were not kept in the small country store. 
George found that he wanted some seeds and a few otfier 
things and that he must go to town, and, strange as it may 
seem, it occurred to him that Alice might like to ride down 
with him and see her mother and sisters ; so, without doubt- 
ing the propriety of riding to town with her, he informed 
her that he found it necessary to go to town, Saturday, and 
he could carry her down, just as well as not, to see her moth- 
er and sisters. Alice didn^t stop to think a minute and said 
she would go. George told her she might dismiss the school 
Friday night and the next Saturday keep all day ; an arrange- 
ment not uncommon in the country. 

Now a ride of eight or ten miles with a well-informed and 
cultivated young woman has no particular incidents connect- 
ed with it which could interest the general reader. He can 


prq^abl J remqjpbqi: ^hen be didn’t object such ^ ride bim* 
self. 4iice anticipated so much ple^s.u,i:e being at home a 
fe^ hours, that the ride delightful to her — and she alight- 
ed at the door of her mother vith a lighter heart thj^n she 
ever possessed before. 8^0 rushed into the house, while 
George was tying his horse, and embraced mother and sisters 
too,— the rca-der knq^si hoiv — j^nd then rushed to the door 
and conducted George to the ^ork-room, where they y(ere ^11 
very civil a,nd polite to hinji. He, hoT^eyer, had bu^inesjs on 
lu^nd, and he informed j^lice he w.ould call for her ^bout 
three o’clock. He could not be persuaded to dine yrith 
them ; he knew very well that they ^ould enjoy the few hours 
together, and he didn’t wish to interrupt that enjoyment. 

They asked^ her all sorts of questions about hej; school, — 
how she liked ‘ boarding-round/ — -and how she did, i^nd when 
she did, and what she did, and where she, did. She answered 
their inquiries and, told them how polite, the 

minister was to her ; thajt she was tend of her littlq, sphpol; ; 
that she had not hes^rd a.ny complaint she guessed shj^ 
was getting along very well. But Grace wanted tqknpw 
something of this young man, who, when he was^seyep^teen, 
was smart as white oak,”— an expressipn whiph had made a 
deep impression upon her mind. Alice, nrere|y s^id he,w«^ 
coming to town and she wanted to see them,, sp, much, she 
couldn’t refuse so good an opportunity, uud^ she had. eqthipg 
more to say. 

There are times in the liistpry of yapng. people whe^xthey 
have nothing to say, Qeppge had t^^A her.tp, k^p scbepl 
and consequently felt interested in her success. He had in- 
vited her to ride to town with him and that didn’t warrant 
her in saying any more, and she hadn’t any more to say; still, 
the looks, the appearance, the mauncr of George might mean 


70 


THE NBEDLE-WOMAN. 


more, and it might not. His sister, Mary, was hind and at- 
tentive and made herself agreeable. Phe conld but notice 
this ; it might be only her native politeness, still, she made 
up her mind to form her opinion of these people and keep 
something to herself sheM scarcely tell to any. 

The hour of three arrived. Fanny ran to the door and 
gave notice the wagon was ready, and off Alice went with a 
light heart and merry countenance. Mrs. Parks, Grace, and 
little Fan watched her as far as the eye could reach and 
threw kiss after kiss to her, and then returned to the work- 
room. 

The neighbors knew that Alice had been at home, and, as 
they ran in and inquired for her and her school, Mrs. Parks 
and Grace told them about Alice, the school, the minister 
and boarding-around ; and Fanny asked why they didn^t tell 
about the white oak, — she should think they had told them 
everything else,” when Mrs. Parks and Grace laughed, and 
Mrs. Parks gave them the white oak and George in full ; and 
a happier circle was not to be found in the palace of kings^ 
nor among the potentates of the earth. 

There is a depth of enjoyment, a sincerity, a mutual union 
with the industrious and virtuous poor which the rich and 
fashionable never possess and cannot attain. I heard a law- 
yer of ability and learning say that “ if he could only have 
the enjoyment which his neighbors had in their praying cir- 
cle, he would give anything he possessed but he knew not 
the peace of mind which submission and reconciliation se- 
cures, nor the power and music of the words, 

“ When I can read my title clear 
To mansions in the skies, 

111 bid farewell to every fear 
And wipe my weeping eyes.” 


CHAPTER X. 


"Vr OUNGr people will do much as did their parents. Alice 
continued to do her duties at school very acceptably. 
Her mother heard from her often and her letters gave evi- 
dence of contentment, which was very gratifying. She wrote 
about herself, her school and the village, — but she said noth- 
ing of George, except that she had a very pleasant ride home, 
as she then termed it. George, hewever, seemed to make the 
most of his office, and he left nothing undone which a pru- 
dential school-committee ought to do, and it so happened 
that in a few weeks — not exceeding four — ^he was done hay- 
ing and business called him to town again ; and he talked 
to himself : — I wonder if Alice would ride to town with me 
again ! I don’t see why I should go alone. She had a pleas- 
ant ride before, I know, for she said she did,” and then if he 
went to town, he must call at her mother’s and if asked why 
he didn’t bring Alice with him, he should not know what to 
say j and he guessed he would venture to ask her to go with 
him. George came out of his reverie, and be met the teach- 
er and asked her to ride to her mother’s again. 

0,” said she, I should love to go, — but don’t Mary want 
to go?” 

George said he guessed not.” 

Why, she hasn’t been to town since I have been here, and 
I know she would like to go with us,” — and before George 
had time to interpose a word, she found Mary and told her 


72 


tHK NEEDLE-WOMAW. 


George had asked her to go to town with him and she 
thought she would like to go. She said she should, if George 
would like to hare her. 

In a minute, Alice met George and Alice said, Mary 
would like to go with them. 

George looked at Mary j she read him at once : he didn^t 
want her to go. But just then, before Mary had time to say 
a word, her mother spoke up and said : I think you had 
better go, Mary. I want to send for a number of little 
things, which you knoW George can’f bdy.” 

There it was — not another word! George said, ‘*^ell, 
girls, be ready by seven o’clock, for it is warm weather and 
I Want to get in town before the sun gets very high.” 

In the morning they were all prompt, and at seven o’clock 
the driver’s seat was made and off they vient. Sallie Biee 
had not a*^ word to say, for if George and Mary were going 
to tovrn, it was proper and right for them to ask the teacher 
to go with them, as shb hadn’t been home but once in ten 
weeks. 

Now thei*e are not many incideht^ in ai ride of ten or twen- 
ty mile^ of much interest, though sometimes they are preg- 
nant with great events. Alice chatted by the way and made 
herself as agreeable as possible. Mary Iduglied and talked 
too. George drove the horse and occasionally remarked it 
was rather warm. Alice rallied him occasionally, spoke of 
his beautiful horse and liOrsemaiiship itf the pleasantest terms, 
hoped he was not crowded, told him she waS having a splen- 
did ride and it was very kind in him to ask her to ride td 
town with Mary. George looked arotmd to Mary atid said 
nothing; but hi^ cduhteniance spoke— there wae" meaning in 
his face— and Mary burst out into A broad lailgh, which rather 
puziled Alice aid she asked Mary What she wAs laughing at 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


73 


" 0, I was ouly laughing at George.’^ 

Before anything more was said, they were in the village. 
The people on the side-walks, with their quick si:ep and care- 
worn countenances, the horses and carriages in the streets 
and the goods displayed from the shop- windows engrossed 
their whole attention till George stopped the horse at the 
door of Mrs. Parks. Alice had hardly alighted before her 
mother, who felt that somebody had stopped at her house, 
dropped her work and was at the door. Mary was intro- 
duced and cordially invited in, when George was told she 
was glad to see him again with such emphasis and in such 
a manner that he knew she was glad to see him as well as 
Alice and Mary. George was about turning his horse when 
Mrs. Parks invited him to dinner, but he excused himself, 
said he must put up his horse, and he guessed he would dine 
at the hotel ; when Mrs. Parks said she wished she had a 
place for his horse ; and away he went, having arranged that 
the girls should be ready at five o^clock, when he would call 
for them. 

Alice was delighted at being with her mother again, and 
after inquiring for Grace and little Fan, who were at school, 
and after seeing her mother and her mother had seen her, 
and after Mary and Alice had told Mrs. Parks about the 
school, and Alice had inquired for the minister and his fami- 
ly and all her friends, and Mrs. Parks had given all the news 
that occurred to her, and they had spent an hour in the most 
free, agreeable and social manner -possible, Alice said Mary 
wanted to buy a few things for her mother ; but before they 
went shopping she guessed they would run up to the High 
school and see Grace and Master Brooks, and she looked 
for the time and said they should just get there at recess ; 
off they went. 

10 




THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Grace met them at the gate and they embraced each other 
as oaiy loving sisters can. As soon as practicable, Mary 
was iiiiroduccd to Giace, who invited her into the school- 
room, and to Master Brooks, when he inquired of Alice 
about her sciiooi, — how she liked boarding around, and inter- 
ested them in inquiries and remarks peculiar to a school- 
master, when the bell rang. Alice thanked him very kindly 
for Ids recommendation of her. Mary made bold to tell him 
that she gave entire satislaction to the whole district. He 
said he was very glad, but he knew she would and then he 
turned and told Grace he guessed she wouldn’t object to be- 
ing excused for the lest of the forenoon. She smiled, 
thanked him and away they W(jpt. 

In a few minutes they were in a millinery shop, — then in a 
dry-goods store and then in another and another till they 
had visited the most important ones in town and had in- 
quired for all they wanted and many more things they did 
not want at each store saying • they guessed they would look 
a little further ’and then, perhaps, call again,’ and thus they* 
went the rounds. Mary was greatly pleased ; she had seen 
what slie wanted at several places, but she hadn’t bought a 
thing — and she had seen the new goods and the fashionable 
things in all the stores in town, — and now, as they returned 
to the stores where they intended to buy, the clerks felt sure 
of a sale. 

Well, you couldn’t find any better bargains than I offered 
you ; could you ?” 

We thought wc would look at some of your goods 
again.” 

An l now they called for what they wanted only, purchased 
them at several places and ordered them sent to the house of 
Mrs. Barks, River Street. As they started for the house 


TH F N F EDLK-WOl^! AN, 


75 

Mary sai<l was too had to make the clerks take down so 
many goods for the few things we Avantccl.’^ 

•* O,” Alice said, ^Hhey liked ^ to show ns the goods, for 
ever so many persons ask mother wlicrc they can bay this, 
that and the other, and they all like to have !icr know what 
they have. She works for so many people, and buys a great 
many things for other people herself; and they are always 
very civil to us.” 

Mary was satisfied, and as they looked up they saw little 
Fanny running up to meet them, who caught Alice by tlic 
hand, and hopped and skipped along by tlicir side as Iiappy 
as the happiest, and as bright as the morning gloiy. 

When the girls went into tiic liouso they found dinner all 
ready for them, and in a few minutes they AV'cre at the table 
enjoying it, and giving an account of their forenoon’s expe- 
rience. Mrs. Parks looked at Mary's purcliases, and said 
she thought her mother would be satisfied, for they were very 
good goods 

After dinner the girls called to sec Alice. They inquired 
about the school— if she wasn’t liomcsick, and Iiow long her 
school would be, and told her how glad they were to see her. 
Mary on crery proper occasion told them they were very 
much pleased with their teacher, that she gave good satisfac- 
tion, and they had conclurlcd to keep her lour months. »SIie 
said they hired their tcaclicr for three or four months. If 
they didn’t like them, they had only three months' schooling; 
but if they were satisfied with the teacher, they kept her 
four montlis, and she heard her father say they were to have 
four months’ term this year. The girls thought that w’as 
quite a compliment. Alice said she had done the best she 
could. As one Icit another came, and they received and 
entertained company that afternoon. When Mrs. Parks said 


7G 


THE NEEDLE-'WOMAN. 


it was most five o’clock, and she guessed she would make a 
little tea and prepare some dry toast for them before they 
left, and she thought George would like some too. At five 
o’clock he was at the door tying his horse, when Mrs. Parks 
invited him in and told him they had some tea and dry toast 
which they would take before they left. 

Ain’t the girls ready ?” said he. 

Yes, but I think they better have a little tea. Now come 
right in ; don’t say a word.” 

It was no use ; and before he had time to consider his 
danger, he was at the table with Mrs. Parks, Alice and Mary, 
Grace and Fanny. Mary told him that she found everything 
her mother sent for, and he said he too had purchased what 
few necessaries they wanted, and he didn’t think he should 
have to come to town again till they had finished harvesting. 
Then Grace undertook to bring him out a little, and said to 
him : 

“ Your sister says they like Alice pretty well up there.” 

He looked to Mary, to Alice, to Mrs. Parks, and finally 
said they did. He hadn’t heard any complaint this sum- 
mer. 

<^She s'kys they have got a first-rate Prudential School 
Committee.” 

This was a little hard on him, but he said he had tried to 
do his duty. Mrs. Parks said a school depended a good 
deal upon whether everything was in readiness or not. If 
the poor children had their writing paper and books provided 
in proper season, and didn’t have to wait till the class were 
half way through a book, it made great| diflerence. George 
looked pleased, and Alice said she had no fault to find in 
that particular. Every thing had been in season and in order. 
Grace said : 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 77 

I don^t know but what I shall want to keep school up 
there one of these days.” 

Well,” said he, “ if I am committee. I’ll hire you. I don’t 
believe you can beat Alice, though.” 

You don’t know till I try,” said she. 

Well,” said he, we shouldn’t want to hire you but three 
months at first.” 

When they all laughed at Grace, and she said : 

Well, I would like to go on those terms.” 

They then left the table. The girls threw on their shawls 
and bonnets, Mrs. Parks thanked George very kindly for 
bringing her daughter and his sister there, and Fanny said, 

We are all greatly obliged to you — hope you will come 
again sometime.” • 

0 yes, Mr. Nye, call when you come down in the fall, 
and we hope you will come with him. Miss Nye,” said Grace. 

Wg shall love to see you.” 

Good-bye, a k.iss, and oif they went, and in about an hour 
and a half drove home. 

Why, George,” said Mrs. Nye, I have been looking for 
you this hour. I never knew you so late before. Your 
father said he was afraid something had happened to you.” 

" Well,” George said, “ when a man goes off with two girls 
he is lucky if he gets back at all. I was surrounded down 
there, and had to stay their time.” 

Alice ran across the road to her boarding-house. Mary 
ran in and showed her mother her purchases. George went 
to the stable with the carriage and then to the pasture with 
the horse. He met his father, told him the price of oats and 
hay and potatoes in town. 

“ Lambs sell quick,” said he at fifteen to twenty cents 
per lb.” Beef was high. Pork was eleven cents in the hog. 


78 


THE NEEDLE-WOM^N. 


Eutter quiet at fort}’ cents, and cheese scarce at twenty^ and 
he thought if prices kept up till winter, farmers wouldn't 
have any reason to complain this year. IMrs. Nye examined 
her cotton cloth, flannel and other articles which Mary pur- 
chased, and said llicy were just w'hat she wanted. The old 
gentleman and George came in. and after sitting a few min- 
utes, and after telling his father that Squire Hale had 
died a number of weeks ago, Mary read the nineteenth 
Psalm, the old gentleman fervently returned thanks for the 
blessings of the day, implored forgiven(‘ss of sins, and pro- 
tection and blessing of God upon his household, and all for 
whom it was his duty to pray, and then they all quietly re- 
tired. 

Monday morning, after George and his father had gone in- 
to the field, Mrs. Nye said to Mary, What kind of folks 
arc the Parkses?*’ Mary said Mrs. Parks appeared to be a 
very hard-working woman. ^^Shc supports herself and fam- 
ily with her needle. . She has two daughters besides Alice: 
Grace and Fanny. Grace was in the High school, and Alice 
told me she was first scholar in her class; she has a fine hcad^ 
a full eye and I should think would learn easy. Fann}wwas 
a little, bright, frolicsome , girl, sprightly, liglit hearted, and 
the youngest and favorite of them all. The neighbors i an in 
to see Alice and seemed to think a great deal of them. 
They occupy a part of the house and receive all the compa- 
ny in the work-room. They made no excuses or apologies, 
Mrs. Parks kept at work most of the time, and I liked them 
and think they arc as respectable poor people as you often 
meet.” 

Mrs. Nye said she was glad to hear about them, for she 
rather thought George had an eye on the teacher and she 
wanted to know more about them. It is no objection 


THE needlp:-womax. 

that they arc poor, if they are only i idustrioii?, truthful and 
honest.” 

Well,” Mary says, you know everybody up here likes 
Alice and I know she could not come from any mean folks.” 

Well, 1 wanted to know something moi c about them, and 
on that account, in pan, 1 wanted you to go to town, and I 
am glad to get so good an account of them. You know 
George is young, very liable to be pleased with a pretty face, 
but I don’t care how soon lie gets married if he only mar- 
ries a girl of good parentage and who knows the value of 
money and has good common sense, and of what I have seen 
of Alice, I should think her a very fine girl.” 

Mary said like her.” She then put the cream into the 
churn, rolled it over and over and sang the Sicilian liymn and 
Dundee. 

Mrs. Parks was very much gratified with Alice’s visit and 
what she learned from Mary and George about her school, 
and she told Grace she looked forward with a great deal of 
pleasure to the time when she could keep school also. 

Grace said they require three years’ study at the High 
school before they let them graduate, and she believed she 
could gain one year of the three : For I don’t have to study 
more than half of my time, and I might, just as well as not, 
•take the studies of the next year and keep [up with, both 
classes.” 

Her mother said she wished she would. 

The next day Grace told her teacher what she wanted to 
do. ^hc thought favorably of it and spoke to the principal, 
Avho at once said ^vLet her try it.” 

Mrs. Parks was now reaping the reward of lier untiring 
industry, and her heart swelled with the pleasantest emotions 
as she heard the accounts of Alice’s success and saw the 


80 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


efforts which Grace voluntarily and so cheerfully made at 
her age to prepare herself also to relieve her 'mother. 

Grace had a large, projecting forehead, a full, penetrating 
eye and a countenance expressive of great intellectual power. 
Her teachers had full confidence in her ability to complete 
the three years’ course in two years, and were rather pleased 
that she had undertaken it. Teachers always have a prefer- 
ence for bright scholars, — they are no trouble to them and 
often stimulate the more moderate and less ambitious pupils. 
Grace had been under their instruction one full term of a 
third of a year when she proposed to prepare the lessons in 
the advanced classes, and they were confident she would per* 
form what she had undertaken if her health was sufficient for 
it. 


CHAPTKU XI. 


TT ANN AH, Ruth, aud Mrs. Dix^s account interested the 
members of the Benevolent Society and they talked with 
each other at intervals, and some of them began to inquire 
why it was now so different from what it was in the days of 
our Fathers. Then, it was an honor to be a mother, but 
now, — how changed! Young men will say ^^Yes,” as if it 
were no disgrace to them. They can’t support children and 
some look upon the birth of a child as a calamity, or a bur- 
den I How came such a feeling to get possession of the minds 
of the young people of the present day ? It is unnatural, and 
must proceed from a false view of life. 

When the Society met, Mrs. White alluded to the subject 
before them at the two former meetings and said she thought 
those women were noble specimens, and, for her part, she 
wished there were more of them. 

Mrs. Hays said There now seems to be a practice among 
young people of destroying or preventing tlie birth of child- 
ren.” 

‘^Well, I think” says Mrs. Taylor, '‘such a practice is 
abominable.” 

Abominable is too mild a term, Mrs. Hayes,” says Mrs. 
White, “ it is outright murder ; and the physician, guilty of 
such practices, ought to be executed with the utmost despatch. 
By it, young women are losing their health, their spirits, their 
lifcy and are criminals in the first degree.” 

Mrs. Orne asked for an explanation ; she didn’t fully un- 

11 


82 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


derstand the reasons of Mrs. Wliile’s remark. Mrs. White 
then* explained, and said “few young married people, now-a- 
days, have children ; and it is whispered around that physi- 
cians aid them in destroying, or preventing the birth of child- 
ren.” 

Mrs. Orne said she had heard intimations of the kind, but 
she did not suppose the practice general. 

“ I fear ” says Mrs. Hayes, “ that too many young women 
are led astray by cowardly and foolish husbands.” 

“I know” said Mrs. Orne, “that infanticide is said to be 
common among the heathen, but I should be slow to believe 
that such a practice prevails among Christian people.” 

Mrs. Taylor said she had heard more said about it of late 
than in all her life before. “ It is but a few days since I 
heard that a young woman lost her life by an attempt to de- 
stroy her child. — and all because her husband said he didn’t 
want children in the family, and to gratify him she suffered 
one of these physicians to be called in, and the result was — 
she lost her life. And her husband, I suppose, will have the 
impudence to ask another innocent and beautiful girl to mar- 
ry him, for the basest purposes.” 

Mrs. Dix said this was a grave subject; she hardly dared 
to express her feelings. “ The sin of such people will surely 
find them out, and the burden of their consciences will be 
greater than they can bear. Hannah was a representative 
character and she deserved all the glory which her name bears. 
But how can the young women of our day be regarded, who 
voluntarily become barren and a reproach among men ?” 

Mrs. Taylor said a young woman of her acquaintance was 
at dinner, well and happy. In the evening the doctor in- 
formed the lady with whom she boarded that she was very 
sick, — her husband was with her, and she needed attention. 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


83 


* You must be mistaken, doctor, it isn't an hour since I saw 
her and she never appeared better.’ ^-Depend upon it, Mad- 
am, she is very sick,’ — and true enough, sick she was, unto 
death ; and in two days she was a corpse, — murdered by the 
man who first announced her illness. At the earnest and ur- 
gent solicitation of her husband she assented, — for a few dol- 
lars a physician was found, base and abandoned, and she and 
her child were murdered. 

Mrs. Doe knew of a case, when a young woman was the 
mother of four children, she conceived the idea that she 
would not l ave any more; she saw some prescription adver- 
tised and without the knowledge of her friends, she procured 
it and dropped dead in her room. 

Mrs. Thorn said she had known of several cases, but im- 
mediate death does not always follow; long and lingering 
illness is the result of such practices, and I should rather 
bury a daughter than have her guilty of such crimes and thus 
linger with broken spirits, shattered constitution and a con- 
science burdened beyond endurance.” 

No subject had ever been introduced into the sewing-circle 
which made such impression, "fhey reflected, they consid- 
ered and case after case came rushing into their minds where 
the health of beautiful young women had began to fail them 
and they looked pale, cadaverous, were often ill and no sat- 
isfactory 'cause liad been assigned for it — and if this were 
the cause, it was time it be known and such persons 
marked as a disgrace to their species. It is rank rebellion 
against Nature and Heaven, and the curse of disobedience 
will soon overtake them. The young people of the present 
day are fashionable, cultivated, Christian, — Ah ! how impo- 
tent is language, sometimes, to give expressions or impres- 
sions 1 The power of Heaven only can impress the mind 


84 




and heart fully and adequately, in view of such many times 
inconsiderate criminality. 

Here the Society were about separating, but they lingered } 
they were in a different state of mind from what they were 
usually. A new and untried subject was before them. They 
usually have what is called a fine time: they talked about all 
tlu'l interesting incidents of the day, — sometimes about the' 
minister and his family, — sickness and poverty came in for a 
large share of their sympathy, (they work Tor the poor) en- 
gagements, weddings interest them hugely, in fact they have’ 
the care of the village and are to see that no one suffers for 
food or clothing, — indeed, they are of as much consequence 
as the parish minister; in fact, they are the exemplification 
of the religion which he teaches : The Poor ye have always 
with you” has a significance with them, and, like Dorcas, 
they are commended for their good works and benevolent' 
acts: the garments which they make* They enjoy their so- 
cial gathering and usually part in great glee, but now, when 
they parted, they were sad and sorrowful. They were 
women of culture, of principle, of character and, most of 
them, of strong religious faith. They would not aid, abet or 
give countenance to any criminal act or slight misdemeanor, 
and they began to fear that young people regarded the acts 
which have been mentioned with complacency. 

It was not our intention to introduce subjects not connect- 
ed with our main object, and it is time to return to our orig- 
inal plan and let the sewing-circle take care of the matters 
which have so unexpectedly engaged their attention. We 
have no doubt they will discuss the subject at the next meet- 
ing and attempt to devise some method by which a practice 
BO wicked and criminal can be stayed, and to create a more 
healthy public sentiment, or, by all means, expose physicians 


THE NEBDLB-WOMAN. 


86 


and others, participants in such crimes. If the women who 
wish to become notorious would take up this subject and ex- 
pose it in all its deformity they would do more to assert their 
rights and command the respect of the world than they can 
do by claiming the right to vote or to wear men's clothes. 

Strange they can’t give their attention to sometliing which 
would elevate them, and not be constantly degrading and 
disgracing themselves. Their position was fixed by the 
Almighty : Thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall 
rule over thee.” Now if these would-be-called big-minded 
women think they can alter this decree, — they will do well 
first to stop the Falls of Niagara, or prevent the tide from 
ebbing and flowing. This talk about women’s rights, women’s 
position, women’s voting is only another exhibition of rebel 
lion to the authority of Jehovah; envy, ambition and folly 
are the foundation of it, and as some persons only seem to 
live to render vice disgusting, so these women seem to be left 
to expose their own weakness and imbecility. They can’t 
govern themselves, much less the men of the nation. 

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit 
before a fall.” Let them blow their blast, spin their thread 
and efiervesce a little — their " desire is to their husband and 
he shall rule over them.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


^^HERE arc dififerent ways to govern and manage a schooL 
Some teachers secure the love, confidence and respect of 
their pupils, while others seldom have either ; and the differ- 
ence consists in the manner of treating children. Some 
teachers seem to think they must govern by fear, and that the 
children must always fear them. They never succeed. 
Scholars, under the influence of fear in a school-room, can’t 
learn. A boy was once told, if he didn’t get his lesson, he 
should be punished. He could not get his lesson. — he was a 
nervous boy and the idea that he might be punished so 
preyed upon his mind that he couldn’t commit his lesson. The 
teacher saw that something was wrong, that the disposition 
of the boy was right, but for some reason he could not repeat 
his lesson though he appeared to know it. The boy trembled 
and was greatly excited. The teaclier saw the difficulty; 
instead of threatening him he praised him, sat by his side, 
assisted him, told him next time he would have no difficulty, 
took him by the hand and caressed him — and the little fellow 
was himself again. He found the teacher was his friend, had 
no disposition to hurt him, and that night he went home from 
the school with his teacher, his friend, though the other schol- 
ars had preceded him a half an hour. 

That boy had no difficulty after that in getting his lessons. 
His father said to the teacher <^You did just right. You 
convinced Albert you was his friend. That fear which so 


THE NBBDLB-WOMAN. 


87 


agitated him disappeared, and he now studies and gets his 
lessons without difficulty. If you had whipped him you 
would have had to whip him again and again and it would 
have been of no use, and finally he would have run away 
from school, and all because you didn’t understand him.^’ 

Now Alice took the right course with licr scholars : she 
never excited any fear in them, but if one made a mistake he 
must try again, be helped a little, the word -divided more dis- 
tinctly in pronounciation, and the second effort was usually 
successful, with great pleasure to the little scholar. The boy 
was not mortified, but felt that he had triumphed, — and so he 
had, and the teacher had triumphed in securing his confidence 
and love. Had she treated liim with severity, he would have 
missed again and again and after a little while wouldn’t care 
whether be missed or not. 

When the Committee visited the school the last week and 
day of the term, Alice called out her classes, one after anoth- 
er. They read distinctly, spelled correctly and took their 
seats orderly. The older classes gave the boundaries of the 
States, the geography of this and that country ; while others 
had also studied Murray and knew as much about Grammar 
as boys and girls at tweke or fourteen years of age usually 
do, — and after two hours spent in the different exercises, the 
Committee had an opportunity to ask such questions as they 
pleased. 

The parson rose, and with much grave dignity expressed his 
entire approbation of the teacher and the school. The squire 
assented to and approved the remarks of the parson, and the 
first selectman told them that they would soon be called to 
take active parts in life, would soon be the fathers and moth- 
ers in their stead, and then little boys must fill the places of 
their ' fathers and be Selectmen and overseers of the poor in 


88 - 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


a few years, and how important it was that they should study 
their books and learn spelling, writing and arithmetic. 

The parson implored the blessing of Heaven upon them 
all and the Committee took leave of them with more gravity 
and dignity than many men would exhibit in presence of 
Ulysses S. Grant or the Emperor of all the Russias. And 
now the scholars were dismissed with a few kind and pleas- 
ant words from tjie teacher, and began to wind their way to 
their several homes. Katie Brown, however, bright and full 
of spirits and fun, said to the teacher on parting How fun- 
ny it was to hear that old man tell us about being fathers 
and mothers, just as though we understood what he meant 
when James Smith shouted, I am going to be first select- 
man, and here is John Stark, he is to be overseer of the 
poor.” Yes,” said Thomas Jones, ^‘and John Kelly and 
Kate Brown are to be lather and mother and thus they 
went off in a frolic full of fun and music. 

We heard this story of one of the Council of the Know- 
Nothing Governor of Massachusetts. The Governor with 
his Council visited some of the Normal Schools, when after 
the Governor had finished his remarks, the Council were 
invited to address the school. One of them rose and said : 

Now, boys, you must be good boys at school. I was always 
a good boy at school. I am the Governor’s Council, and if 
you will be good boys at school you may be of the Govern- 
or’s Council.” 

Now some people were disposed to criticize this speech, 
but how could it be better ? Here was a man who was a 
fair illustration of being a good boy at school, who told them 
his present position was the effect of being a good boy — a 
living proof of the fact, a demonstration before them — but 
John Smith didn’t help the matter when he whispered almost 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


•89 


aloud, “ If you are the Governor's Council I should think 
any man might be.” 

Alice had now closed her first term of school-teaching suc- 
cessfully. She took leave of her friends and returned home, 
all expressing the hope she would be their teacher the next 
year. It is idle to attempt to impress upon the mind the 
pleasure of a mother when her daughter returns home under 
such circumstances — especially when that mother, by her 
personal efibrts and industry had prepared that daughter for 
position and usefulness. The reader must exercise his own 
judgment in determining how this little family enjoyed the 
hours together when Alice gave them her summer's experi- 
ence, anecdotes and incidents connected with her school and 
boarding round. We were not there, and therefore c innot 
inform the reader what was said, what was enjoyed, and our 
imagination does not come to the rescue, and inform us what 
was said and what was enjoyed in recital of facts and inci- 
dents illustrative of innocent, buoyant and youthful human 
nature. 

School-keeping is an art. Some succeed — others fail, and 
are at a loss to know why. Some will govern a school with 
a word or a look; others will be in a constant turmoil, with- 
out discipline or government. But one thing is certain, a 
teacher who cannot govern himself, cannot govern a school. 
In a country town in New Hampshire, some years ago, there 
was a district school of eighty-three scholars. A boy from 
college was engaged as teacher. There were children in the 
school who must be taught their letters, and others taught 
the higher branches of a village school. One rule of the 
district was that the larger boys in turn .should build the fire 
and the boys keep the fire burning. The fifth Saturday, the 

teacher observed that the fire was low, and as Albert Cobb 
12 


90 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


was going out, he told him to bring in some small wood. 
When he returned he had two sticks covered with ice, and 
full of frost, which in a few minutes would have extinguished 
all the fire on the hearth. The teacher happened to be be- 
tween the fire and the door and saw what he had, supposed 
a mistake, and told him they wanted a little small wood, as 
the school would close in about an hour, and to carry that 
out and bring in some small wood. Albert went out and 
again came in wdth two large sticks of wood, frozen, covered 
wdth snow and ice, and before the teacher had time to inter- 
fere, was at the fireplace, with the wood upon the hearth. 
The teacher calmly told him he must bring him some small 
wood, when he defiantly refused. Now he was seventeen 
years old, full of sap and muscle, and had the teacher under- 
taken to flog him, he might have got the worst of it. Still 
something must be done promptly and decidedly, or the gov- 
ernment of that school was no longer in the power of the 
teacher. Albert W’as again ordered to bring him some small 
wood, or take his books and leave the school. He didn’t 
dare to resist this order, and in a few minutes he was on his 
way home, and another boy supplied the wood for that hour. 

Monday morning the teacher was at his post early, Albert 
came to the door with his books, apparently supposing turn- 
ing him out of school was all his punishment, and that he 
could take his scat as usual. But not so thought the teacher, 
and he met him at the door, and told him he would take his 
books, and before he took his scat he must bring in a little 
small wood. Albert chocked, and finally said he would go 
liome and see if he had a right to go to school. Albert did- 
n’t return, and the general, the doctor and the lawyer began 
to discuss the rights of schoolmasters, and the verdict was 
in favor of the teacher. The rules of the district must be 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


91 


kept, aud order sustained in the school. The general was 
the father of Albert, but he was out of command. Ho 
could not control his boy, nor raise any opposition to the 
teacher in the district. In two or three weeks, however, 
lawyer Dwight asked the teacher into his office, and said it 
was a pity Albert should lose his schooling, and wanted to 
know if he couldn’t then go to school. 0 yes,” rcfdied the 
teacher, but before he takes his seat he must bring in a 
little small wood.” This was a stunner. The lawyer saw 
the propriety of it, and he said not a word. 

The teacher closed his school, took the si age for college, 
and left the general, the doctor, and the lawyer to discuss 
the duties and power of schoolmasters. Ho never after saw 
Albert, the general, the doctor, or lawyer Dwight. He pre- 
sumed they have been to the river and passed safely over. 
Whether the ferryman required Albert to biing in a little 
small wood before he went aboard, he cannot say, but this 
he does know, for seven weeks he didn’t take his scat in that 
school-room, because he refused to bring in a little small 
wood. The government of the school was preserved, order 
reigned, and the teacher was respected by the school and the 
district. The teacher was rig’it. Everybody in this life 
would have but little trouble, if they are only right. Every 
body should be right, especially the schoolmaster. 

Harvesting comes on rapidly in the fall of the year. Frost 
takes possession early in New England — never waits for the 
farmer to dig his potatoes, or gather his apples. Winter 
follows with rapid strides. The snow flics, and the earth is 
covered. The moon rises in great splendor, and now is the 
time for the farmer boys and girls to have their recreations, 
and the evenings are usually employed to good advantage. 


92 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Slcigh-ridcs are expected and enjoyed as much as the sea- 
side and mountain air are enjoyed by the sons and daughters 
of fashion and folly. Mr. Nye had done most of his har- 
vesting, though George had occasionally been to town, when 
he never failed to call and inquire after Mrs. Parks and her 
daughters. He was usually in his working apparel, and 
did not make any formal calls. The family was always glad 
to see him, he knew, for they said they were. He was urged 
to bring Mary down with him, and Alice and Grace told him 
they would go shopping with her. He said he would, and 
then they knew he would. 

Not many days passed, and Alice looked from her window, 
and George and Mary were at the door, just alighting from 
their carriage. Alice was with them instantly, and they 
were welcomed. Without any ceremony they entered the 
work-room, when Mrs. Parks for once dropped her work, 
and spent a half hour socially with them. After that the 
shops must be visited, and George must attend to some busi- 
ness affairs, when all would return to early tea at five o’clock. 
The shops were visited, and the clerks were very polite, and 
recognized Mary at once where she had made her purchases 
before. She found no difiiculty in filling her list, when the 
three promenaded the principal streets and examined the 
public buildings and places of interest. 

Alice and Grace were particular in their attentions, and 
made the walk very pleasant and agreeable to Mary, and at 
five o’clock were punctual to tea. George was not far be- 
hind, and they all enjoyed a social cup of tea. Mrs. Parks 
and her daughters were polite and attentive to their guests, 
and made their visit pleasant and agreeable to them. 

At seven o’clock they took their leave without ceremony, 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


93 


but in that simple and quiet manner which marks the peas- 
antry of the country, and shows that true politeness is not 
made up of fuss and feathers. This visit was the turning 
point with George. He no longer hesitated what to do. 


• I: 


f 


CIIAITER xin. 


^I^HE subject upon which the Benevolent Society were 
talking and meditating when they parted, was exceed- 
ingly interesting and exciting. In the interval they had 
talked with their husbands, with their confidential physicians, 
and with each other, and when they met again, they began 
where they left off. They took pride in their children and 
grand-children, and counted the former by seven, nine, twelve, 
and fifteen, and never felt certain of the number of grand- 
children, except on thanksgiving day, when the annual report 
was made. Now some mothers had two, others only one, 
and the number of fruitless marriages was astonishing. A 
new revelation was opened to them. They were grieved ; 
they talked in sorrow, but they were calm. They reminded 
one of the calmness befoi-e a hurricane, when all nature is 
still, but suddenly a cloud arises in the east and another in 
the west, and wdicn they meet everything must give way, as 
in the September gale. Trees are torn up by the roots,, 
houses are blown down, and the tornado carries with it 
everything in its circuit. 

Mrs. Dix first broke silence in an ebulition of indignation 
and wrath. Those people who have seen women filled with 
holy indignation and intense sorrow, can judge just how she 
looked. Language cannot impress upon the mind the coun- 
tenance, the manner, the spirit. Mrs. Taylor followed her 
with words more bitter, and with indignation more intense, 
if possible, and with expressions of supreme contempt for 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


95 


all such parties, when Mrs. White said she considered such 
practices murders in the fij’st degree, crimes against nature, 
which would surely bring down the vengeance of heaven ; 
and if she knew any of her daughters liad become parties to 
such a crime, she would warn them of their sin and danger, 
and if they insisted upon the practice, she would treat them 
as parties guilty of the highest crimes "known to the law, and 
their husbands, if they seduced tliera to become paities to 
such offences, they should be banished from her presence for- 
ever- She never bore sons, she knew, who were such cow- 
ards tliey didn’t dare to undertake the support of a family 
before nor since tlje war. 

Here a dozen voices united in expressions of shame, cow- 
ardice, villiany, execration upon all parties, high or low, 
rich or poor, who aid in such crimes. Mrs. Kelly said any 
physician, a party to such practices, should never enter her 
house, and she thought he ought to be hooted in the streets ; 
yea, more, branded as a murderer, if the law would npt 
reach him and part his head from his shoulders. Mrs. Orne 
said she could hardly believe what she heard. IIow young 
people, brought up in this age, with the privileges of educa- 
tion and the blessings of the gospel, could be guilty of such 
practices, was unaccountable to her. Where is their con- 
science? Have they no fear of the judgment of heaven? 
Is all our teaching of their accountability lost ? Do such 
parties expect to meet us in heaven ? And do we meet them 
here in church, pretending to be Christians, and to unito 
with us in adoration and praise to the Father of us all? It 
is hypocrisy. It is mockery. The love of God cannot 
dwell in such hearts. 

No, indeed, it can’t,” said Mrs. Tyler, and I wonder 
what the Devil will invent next to secure victims for the pit.” 


96 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


Then Mrs. Parker said she thought a new duty devolves 
upon us mothers — to warn our daughters of the criminality 
of such crimes, the danger to their health and the certainty 
of a lingering if not a premature death.” 

“ From what I can learn,” said Mrs. Sprague, young men 
are the more guilty party.” 

Now,” said Mrs. Dix, we are the Benevolent Society, 
representing all sects, all societies in town. Let us set our- 
selves to expose any physician guilty of such practice, and 
any parties who aid or countenance it.” To this there was 
an unanimous aye, with such force and energy that it meant 
work. 

What shall we do, Mrs. Dix,” asked Mrs. Little, if we 
meet one of these physicians ? ” 

Spit upon him I ” said she. 

Why, Mrs. Dix, you don’t mean,” said Mrs. Taylor, ^^that 
I should actually spit upon him, do you ? ” 

Why, not exactly ; but treat him in such a way that he 
will feel as though he had been spit upon. Indeed, I don’t 
know that I wouldn’t actually spit in his face. It would be 
difficult for me to restrain my feelings, though I am not easily 
excited. Such physicians ought to be outcast. They have 
forfeited all claim to the respect or protection of society.” 

Yes, indeed, they have,” said Mrs. Wood. I had no 
idea of the number of deaths by such practices, and the 
number of healthful, cheerful, and happy women, who have 
lost their health, become dejected and miserable, in conse- 
quence of being inconsiderate parties to such practices. 
Only yesterday, it may be a similar case to the one men- 
tioned the other day. I heard of a beautiful, talented and 
educated young woman, who was the wife of a man of learn- 
ing and ability, and every way respectable and respected. 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


97 


and after having two beautiful boys, she conceived the idea 
of not having any more children. She had read the adver- 
tisements of these wretches, called female doctors, and she 
lent a willing ear to them, and after taking one or two of 
their prescriptions, she fainted and died.” 

" But her case was not so bad,” said Mrs. Hayes, as far 
as this world is concerned, as is the condition of those who 
linger in pain, suffer for years, and then die a distressing, 
excruciating death.” 

can mention a dozen women of my acquaintance,” said 
Mrs. Todd, who have been married from four to six years, 
and who, when married, were full of health and hope, and 
the pride and ornament of society, but after a year or so 
they would be ill for a week, then again well apparently, 
and then again ill, until their health was broken down, and 
they became pale, cadaverous looking beings^ no more like 
themselves, than the dry limb is like the full bud in spring. 
Life is a dreary waste to them* Ask their husbands why 
they don’t have children, they reply Without any apparent 
shame, ^ 0, 1 can’t support children.’ But can they support 
a sick wife, and infamous medical men ?” 

Thus one after another expressed their indignation and 
wrath, and the Sewing Circle was for once united to a man. 
Mrs. Smith, even, did not oppose them, but united heart and 
soul with them in expressions of indignation and scorn for 
parties aiding or abetting in such practices. 

13 


CHAPTER XIV. 


their way home, George and Mary talked very freely 
about Mrs. Parks and her daughters. Mary said she 
had never met parties who seemed more happy, and who 
were more cordial and agreeable. They seemed to know 
how to treat people, and though they made no pretensions, it 
was pleasant to meet them, for it was evident they were glad 
to see us, and that they were honest, truthful people. 

Those are the best sort of folks after all,” said George. 

Industry, honesty, and truth are virtues which do not grow 
on every bush.” 

When Mary had shown her purchases to her mother and 
she approved them all, she told how Mrs. Parks’ girls assist- 
ed her, and what a beautiful visit she had, and Mrs. Nye 
asked her many questions relative to Alice and her mother 
and sisters, which Mary answered favorably. 

George told his father the price of produce, and that old 
Mr. Hale was dead, that there was a great fever for going to 
California, and the gold diggings, and in two or three years 
many people thought they would begin to build a railroad to 
California, and some people said it would be finished in ten 
years. 

“ Not in my day,” said the old gentleman. 

He said it looked like a storm, and he thought we should 
have snow in a day or two. It was three weeks before snow 
fell in such quantities as to make good sleighing, and then 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


99 


George after dinner harnessed the horse for a sleigh-ride, 
and in an hour or two he was in River street, and this time 
found Mrs. Parks .in her work-room alone. She met him 
very cordially, and after speaking of the weather, the sleigh- 
ing and after answering Mrs. Parks’ inquiries in regard to 
Mary and her parents, he said to her that he had been think- 
ing about getting married. Mrs. Parks said she thought it 
was a good plan for young men to marry young, and inquired 
if he had made choice of a partner. Now this was quite a 
relief to him, and he said he had if she would give her con- 
sent. He said he proposed to offer himself to Alice, if it 
would be agreeable to her. She said Alice was young, but 
if they were agreed, she would not make any objection. 

Now this showed good sense by both. George spoke 
his mind, and Mrs. Parks knew he was honest, sincere and 
truthful, and she answered him as a sensible and discreet 
woman would always answer a young man under similar cir- 
cumstances, if indeed she had no reasonable objection to 
him. From his inquiries he had learned that ‘Alice was at 
one of the neighbors, but that she would be home soon. 

Success had attended George so far, and time began to 
seem long to him, when little Fan, always in the right place 
at the right time, came running in, and after speaking to Mr. 
Nye, and taking him by the hand, and asking him how he 
was, how Mary was, and if it was beautiful sleighing, before 
he had time to answer either question, Mrs. Parks said to 
her, You step into Mr. Kent’s and tell Alice Mr. Nye is 
here.” It is Mr. Nye now and ever hereafter. Fan was 
not many minutes in finding Alice, who returned home im- 
mediately, saying to Mrs. Kent that she had a caller at home. 
She met Mr. Nye very cordially, said she was glad to see 
him, when he replied he was glad to see her, and she imme- 


100 


THE KEEHLE-WOMAK. 


diately began to inquire for Mary, his father and mother, 
parson Kelly, the little ones and neighbors generally. After 
answering her inquiries, and spending a half hour in social 
and pleasant conversation, he said it was very fine sleighing, 
and asked her to ride around town with him. She looked 
to her mother, who assented, and she said she should be very 
happy to. 

In a few moments she was dressed for the ride, and they 
enjoyed as much any other parties in town or city that day. 
They had not proceeded far, when he made known to Alice 
the purpose of his visit, the assent of her mother, << and now 
it is in your power to make me the happiest man in town.” 
She knew Mr. Nye was no coxcomb, but honest and truthful, 
and she replied that she was young, hardly competent to take 
charge of a house, and she didn’t think of being engaged or 
married so young. He said she was just the right age. 

What will Mary say, and your parents ? ” said she. 

Mr. Nye said he had not consulted them, but he had heard 
them speak of her in such terms that he had no doubt they 
would be pleased with her for a sister and daughter-in-law. 
Alice said she could not think of marrying a man if his 
friends objected. 

Neither,” said he, should I think of marrying a person 
to whom they object.” 

Alice said all the money she had in the world was what 
he paid her for keeping school, and some of that she had 
spent. Her mother had worked very hard for several years 
** for we girls, and I was hoping to be able to relieve her for 
a few years at least.” 

As for the money,” said Mr. Nye, " that is not a consid- 
eration with me, and if you haven’t much, it won’t take you 
long to get ready. I appreciate your desire to assist your 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 101 

mother, but as I have her consent, she has relieved you of 
all embarrassment on her account.” 

"I suppose you would not think of being married at pres- 
ent.” 

Well, I thought I should like to be married in just one 
year from the day I saw you for the first time and hired you 
to teach our school.” 

** O my !” said she, “ In less than six months 7” 

Alice didn’t speak again for several minutes ; it seemed to 
Mr. Nye a long time. They rode around and around in the 
different streets, when Alice said, " You can hardly expect a 
direct answer now, Mr. Nye. T must see mother and Grace 
and little Fan, and have a family talk with them.” 

" 0 no,” said he, " but I always thought if I intended to 
marry a person I would tell her so at once, and she then 
would know how to act and would not be deceived. I have 
no patience with young men who will wait upon a young 
lady month after month, without having made their purpose 
known. There is Thomas Clark, — he has waited upon Liz- 
zie Jones these two years, but says he is not engaged I I 
don’t think such conduct fair or honorable. If he intends 
to marry Lizzie, why not tell her so, — and if not, stay away 
about his business. She supposes he intends to marry her, 
no doubt, but no one knows how soon he may see some other 
pretty face and be carried away with it ; whereas, if he is 
engaged, there is only one pretty face to him.” 

<< I like your principles, Mr. Nye. I heard a story of Mrs- 
Balch I liked very much : she had four or five sons, — they were 
young men of good character, — and one of them waited upon 
a young lady a year or more. His mother and her mother 
probably supposed they were engaged. • They appeared very 
fond of each other ; he was often there, always welcome, and 


102 


THE NEEDLE -WOMAN. 


he intended to marry the young lady as soon as circumstan- 
ces would permit. She^expected and wanted to marry him. 
His mother heard he had never offered to marry her. She 
called him, as he was about to leave the house, and told him 
if he was not engaged, to engage himself that night or else 
never visit Miss Steel again. If she was her father, she would 
know why he was so often at her house without declaring his 
purpose or he would be notified to leave, without ceremony. 
< Now don- 1 you come home till you settle this matter.’ The 
voice of the mother prevailed, and that evening the ring was 
on the finger and, subsequently, they were married and were 
happy.” 

“ I like that Mrs. Balch. Now, I don’t want you to be in 
haste, but, as soon as you can, I want you to be as frank as I 
have been.” 

Alice said, You will be down again in two or three weeks.” 

Yes, in two weeks from to-day.” 

“ Well, I will be very happy to see you,” and they were at 
the door of Mrs. Parks’, and tea and toast were ready for 
them. Alice said she bad had a delightful ride, she enjoyed 
it very much ; but at the tea-table she was rather quiet, 
absent-minded perhaps, but Grace and her mother, with little 
Fan, had much to say. After tea, the evening was spent 
socidly ; occasionally a neighbor called, to whom Mrs. Parks 
introduced Mr. Nye ; when about nine o’clock, he bid them 
all good-evening, and took home much love for Mary. 

The next day, after Grace and little Fan had gone to 
school, Alice and her mother had some time together. She 
told her mother she hated to leave her so young, — she was 
now able to help her some and she felt it was her duty to do 
so. Her mother tojd her she was a very dutiful daughter; 
she had never made her any trouble, — she thought Mr. Nye 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


103 


would make her a good husband, and that she had better con- 
sider whether it was wise to reject, so good an offer, — Mr. 
Nye appears to be an honest, upright young man, you know 
him better than I do, and you must decide a matter of this 
kind for yourself.” 

Alice thought deeply, — she considered, — she reflected, and 
she said to her mother, We have all lived here so many 
years together ! Grace will graduate next year, and Fanny 
soon be grown up, and we can all work and keep school. 
We have enjoyed life as well as most people and we can, here, 
for many years.” 

Yes, we have got along very well, but we have no securi- 
ty that Grace wont find some one who will carry her off in 
a year or two. We can't always expect to live together.” 

Alice said she liked Mr. Nye; his character was good, his 
liabits were good, and his father's family was very respecta- 
ble, as mucli so as any family in the village, and she conldn’t 
see any objection except that she was so young and that she 
must leave home, — it wouldn^t be like going away to teach 
school four months.” 

Her mother made no reply, and Alice seemed to be very 
thoughtful, disinclined to talk when Grace came home, and 
she continued in a sort of meditative, contemplative, serious, 
almost solemn state of mind for several days, when Grace 
said Why, what is the matter with you, Alice? You don't 
seem to be yourself. An't you well ?” 

Yes,” she said she was as well as usual. 

At evening Grace was in her chamber with her books, and 
Alice went in and sat by her side. She asked her a question 
about her lessons, what she was then studying, but Grace 
didn't appear to hear her, and she didn't, for her mind was 
so concentrated on her lessons that you might go in and out 


104 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


of the room a dozen times and she would notice you no more 
than the passers-by on River Street. But Alice wanted to 
have a talk with her, and she took her by the hand and said, 
Grace, I have something to tell you.” She then had 
Grace’s attention, and the began and told her what Mr. Nye 
said to her the other day when they were riding, — how she 
and her mother had talked over the subject, and how they 
had been little orphan children together and how hard their 
mother had worked for them and how she hated to go away 
and leave them, — wd she burst into a flood of tears ; Grace 
joined her with her head upon her bosom, when they all but 
cried aloud. Tears soon relieved Alice of the pent-up sor- 
row which had so changed her in appearance and demeanor 
for several days, and with tears running down her cheeks 
she said, " Now, Grace, what shall I do ?” 

Grace couldn’t speak for a minute or two, when she said 
What fools we are to cry so 1” 

Alice said she didn’t know. 

It is not the first time I have cried within the last few 
days.” 

Grace arose, went and washed her face, but when she came 
back she could not speak, tears would run in spite of her, 
when Alice, who was somewhat relieved, said, " There ! your 
washing has done you no good.” And it hadn’t. If there is 
any pure affection in this life, it exists in the breasts of two 
sisters, who, in comparative poverty, have seen their mother 
tasking nature to its utmost capacity for them, and who, with 
pure minds and hearts, have begun fully to appreciate the 
efforts of a mother for them and to realize their own condi- 
tion and responsibilities. 

It is no use to say girls marry without thought or consid- 
eration. Some may rush headlong, and fashionable, gay and 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAX. 


105 


jewelod girls, at the Springs or Mountains or sea-side, may 
make a match for convenience or position, but then it is not 
expected it will have any of the elements of pure affection 
or be productive of any permanent happiness. Such persons 
arc not domestic; their happiness consists in show, in fash- 
ion, in dress,-^in the waltz, at the theatre or opera. It is 
empty, evanescent, tasteless. The parties tolerate each other 
and sometimes find their spirits congenial, and live in peace 
and harmony. But here is a domestic circle which had seen 
poverty, but had lived in each other’s love and ahection — 
about to be separated. They had no separate desires or 
purposes, and Alice would have rejected the Prince of Eng- 
land rather than displease her mother or sever the affections 
which had strengtliened with her years. But her mother 
favored marrying him, and if Grace did too — she must fol- 
low the impulses of her nature, and, in a few months, assume 
the duties and responsibilities of married life. 

Grace had fortitude, character, but Alice had taken her by 
surprise and she broke down, and she couldn’t seem to recov- 
er her self-possession. At length, however, she mastered her- 
self enough to ask, “ What does mother say about it ?” 

0,” Alice said, mother is a mother, and what wont a 
mother do for her children ? She would give her life if it 
would promote our happiness. Mr. Nye consulted her before 
he made any proposal to me, and she gave her consent and 
favors the match. She thinks, if I love him or think he is 
such a man as I could be happy with, I ought to marry him.” 

Then I would,” sobbed Grace. 

But I don’t want to marry him unless we all think it best. 
I mean to talk with little Fan about it ; she will probably be 
pleased without knowing why.” 

She likes Mr. Nye and so do I, Alice, from what I have 
14 


i06 


TfiE KfeEDLE-WoMAi^. 


seen of him and I think he will make you a good husband/^ 
said Grace. “He appears to be a very honest young man, of 
good abilities and welhinformed.” 

“ Yes,’^ said Alice, “they think everything of him at home, 
and I don’t think there is a young man in the village more 
respected than he is; at the several places where I have 
boarded they all spoke of him as a reliable young man, of 
good character and ability. They have a farm very pleas- 
antly located and are in good circumstances — -but then moth- 
er and you and 1 and little Pan have lived together so happi- 
ly that I can hardly think of leaving you, but I suppose I 
must if you all say so.” 

Grace’s tears would flow, in spite of her. By common con- 
sent they retired for the night, and in each other’s arms slept 
dull care and sorrow away. In the morning they felt as one 
that dreameth, — they wisely abstained from alluding to the 
subject of the evening. In a few moments Grace Was at the 
table with her books and Alice with her mother. She must 
have one more talk, however. At a favorable moment she 
took Fanny one side and told her the story, — ‘She saw in 
Gy ft ee -’s eye a tear and she burst out crying as children cry. 
She liked “ White Oak,” as she called him. In a few minutes 
she said, “ Was that what he was down here for? I wish he 
had staid at home !” and she jumped up and ran away from 
Alice and sighed and sobbed no more. 

The work was done. Alice began now to look upon the 
bright side of the picture, as her mother had always done. 
She looked for Mr. Nye with a good deal of pleasure, when 
she should announce to him that she would comply with his 
wishes. She was calm, collected, did the duties of the hour 
cheerfully, talked with her mother and Grace about her 
school — the many happy acquaintances she had made there 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


101 


and how happy she thought she should be with Mr. Nye. 
Mary was her friend and always would be, and Mr. Nye^s 
father and mother* were just the folks she should like to live 
with. - When Mr. Nye came at the day appointed she met 
him, not with an cbulition of passion or expression of ex- 
treme delight, but with dignity and self-possession. She in- 
quired for Mary, his father and mother and how he had been 
for two long weeks. She was evidently glad to see him, and 
his answer he saw in her face. He was in the work-room ; 
Alice never looked so pretty in his eyes before, — Grace was 
in her best mood, and little Fan as bright and sprightly as 
ever, and they were socially and agreeably enjoying the hour 
when Mrs. Parks said to him, When you came here, last 
Spring, you said you wanted a school-teacher. You didn’t 
say you wanted a wife.” 

Alice blushed, Grace smiled, and Fanny laughed aloud, 
and he said that was his business then, and he succeeded so 
well he thought he would come again. He was in earnest 
then, and is now.” Immediately, Alice invited him into the 
spare-room, when she made him acquainted with her inter- 
views with her mother, Grace and little Fanny, ahd said, if 
his friends at home were satisfied, she would comply with 
his wishes. He said they knew the object of his visit and 
approved it highly. They spent the hours of the evening 
socially and agreeably, when he said he would be down again 
next week, and then said good-night, and she said good-night. 

In the morning it was not necessary to ask him how he 
succeeded, for his whole appearance and demeanor spoke out. 
After a while Mary says, When are you to be married, 
George ?” 

In May,” said he. 


CHAPTER xy. 


rilHERE is something heroic in a young girl of sixteen 
undertaking to accomplish at school in two years what 
scholars usually do in three years; and when we consider 
the motive, that she might relieve her mother of care and 
labor and fit herself also for usefulness, we must admire the 
character, the principles which governed her and the heart 
which impelled her to such exertions. Grace prepared the 
lesson of her class and then took the lesson of the class of 
the next year which she also prepared in a manner highly 
satisfactory to her teachers and creditable to herself, and 
thus, by diligence and extra exertions, she was prepared to 
enter the senior class at the end of the first term of the senior 
year. That she had acquired 4s much knowledge or made 
as much proficiency in a year and three months as the schol- 
ars were required to do in two years and more was evidence 
of intellect, as well as industry and perseverance. 

Few people know what they can do till they try ; and if 
they would try and not repine, they would find life much 
more agreeable, and themselves enjoying the world more in 
accordance with the designs of the Creator, than thay do by 
finding so many trials and hardships in the way. If Grace 
had been ordered to do in two years what she voluntarily did, 
she might have considered it a hardship, — but tlje motive was 
so honorable to herself, and the reward for which she fought 
was so desirable and laid so near her heart, that every effort 
she made was a pleasure to her and a source of great grat- 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


109 


ification to her mother. We, however, could but think, when 
she was admitted to the senior class and stood there their 
peer, a little pride must have taken possession of her, or at 
least manifested itself in some way. This we do know, 
whatever her feelings might have been, her teacher was proud 
of her and took occasion at all proper times to commend her 
and also to stimulate others to exertion by the success which 
had attended her efforts, her industry and perseverance. 

Some people think that great men are made great by their 
Creator, while in fact the difference in men is more in their 
habits of industry and diligence than the world is prepared 
to admit. Brains are good substances, but are useless alone 
and no better than a lump of clay. How often do men say. 
He is a man of talents, of wit, of discernment, but he is 
indolent, he is dissipated, he has no ambition, he has wasted 
his time, and his talents are of no use to him or the world. 
Again, if he bad been born poor and been obliged to work, 
he might have been the representative man, the eminent 
statesman, or the distinguished jurist, while, in fact, all that 
was necessary was industry and principle 1’^ which teaches 
that every talent given us by our Creator should be improved 
to the greatest possible advantage and His blessing is sure 
to follow. Many men would like to be great men, if they 
could without the exertion which makes men great. Show 
me the man who is pre-eminent among his cotemporaries, and 
I will show you the man who loses no time, who leaves none 
of his powers or faculties to rust or waste. 

Grace’s success was the result of cultivating, of improv- 
ing the talents which nature had given her • one talent was 
time, — she lost no time in idleness j she never saw any idle- 
ness at home and practically she knew it not, and we have 
heard her say in substance How I wish I had the means, 


no 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


the opportunities which some others had ! I did the best I 
could under the circumstances — who could do better 
Fanny was the youngest, Alice was teaching, Grace was in 
the High school and her studies engaged all her time. Mrs. 
Parks was alone, — but how inclined mothers are to have 
their children or at least one of them for company, and it 
didn^t seem very important that Fanny should be at the Gram- 
mar School every day, and if her mother had a longing for 
her company, or if she was more inclined to be at home occa- 
sionally than at school, it was not surprising. Then she was 
so handy, useful, she could assist her mother a great deal 
deal about the house. 

The next term I do not intend to keep Fanny from school 
one day.” But how weak are our resolutions when in oppo- 
sition to our inclinations ! The next term was like the last, 
‘‘ but she is young, she will have opportunity to go to school, 
and when Alice comes home, every day must find her with her 
books and at school,” — and thus one term passed after anoth- 
er, and Fanny attended school part of each term. Her atten- 
tion and time was divided, and gradually she lost interest in 
the school and the result was that she, like Alice, left school 
/ early. Perhaps it was as well for her and her mother, — her 
education was sufiBcient for all the ordinary purposes of life. 
Grace continued her studies, — the years roll rapidly when all 
our time is occupied. 


CHAPTER XTl. 


REN the ladies of the sewing-circle began to invest!- 
^ * gate the subject which had excited so much indignation, 
they found the evil far more wide-spread than they anticipa- 
ted, and that it was necessary for them to move with some 
caution. Many young married women were suffering from 
disease engendered by such practices, they had no doubt, 
but how to prove it, or how to approach the subject was 
extremely difficult and perplexing. Parties would not ac- 
knowledge their own shame, — physicians dare not tell the 
whole truth. My darling daughter would not dare Heaven 
by such heathenish practices !’^ It required prudence, wisdom, 
judgment, discretion, to present such practices in their true 
light, and not at the same time give unpardonable offence. 

Sewing-circles sometimes get the name of talking scandal, 
and possibly they deserve it, — but here ■^as a serious evil 
which was impairing the health and destroying the peace and 
happiness of many families ; to let it pass unnoticed, when it 
had been presented to them, would make them particeps 
criminis or accessories, and remiss to the duties, which, as 
mothers, they owed to society, — and it would provoke the 
wrath of Heaven; vengeance would follow, perhaps slow, 
but sure. They must do their duty ! 

The number of young women who had been married from 
two to ten years and were not mothers astonished them. 
Many of them began to show symptons of disease ; some had 
a hectic cough, — some had hollow cheeks, cadaverous-looking 


112 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


countenances ; many of them said the doctor called their 
complaint “disease of the liver.’’ Some complained of dys- 
pepsia, of indigestion, a loathing at the stomach, most of them 
looked dispirited, — they had lost that glow which indicated 
health, that bright and innocent countenance which belong to 
their age, — and that elasticity and energy wd.ich indicated 
life and activity. It was painful to contrast them with the 
mothers who had borne their second, third, fifth, and. in some 
instances, their sixth babe to the altar, before the whole con- 
gregation, that she might express her gratitude and love, her 
confidence and faith, her belief and trust, her hope and 
dependence upon a covenant-keeping God. They had not 
violated the laws of Nature, and they had “ a correspondence 
fixed with Heaven,” “which is sure a noble anchor.” 

Here was the difierence : A mother with half a score of 
children leading in the benevolent acts of the day, — seeking 
out the poor, that they might be clothed and fed, — was 
always at the prayer-meeting; while her motherless sister 
could not be exposed to the evening air, and her health was 
such, she could hardly do the duties of the hour at home. 
Now, something must be done; and what could a few women 
do to stay an evil which had got such hold of the community 
— before it was known, — that it was now appalling. They 
could talk about it, — they could consult intelligent physi- 
cians upon the subject, — they could instruct their own house- 
hold, and if they could get the ball in motion — the tide once 
setting against the practice — public opinion in the right 
direction, and viewing the subject correctly — the crime 
might be exposed, the conscience awakened and the plague 
stayed. 

Archimedes said “if he had a place upon which to 
stand, he could move the earth;” and these women were 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


113 


satisfied, if they could only get a standing-point, a way to 
come at the subject, they could stay its progress. Perhaps 
they never deliberated so long, so thoughtfully, so prudently, 
so profoundly and so cautiously upon any other subject, — for 
the reason they never had a subject under consideration 
before, which weighed so heavily upon them, which was so 
momentous in all its consequences, and which required so 
much wisdom. They were not appalled, but in earnest, reso- 
lute, determined ; at first, they would spit upon the physi- 
cian, — but now they must move with caution, with prudence? 
with discretion. Mrs. White said some one ought to write 
a book upon the subject. Mrs. Orne said the press ought to 
speak out and expose the crime. Mrs. Taylor said the press 
often times did more hurt than good by telling people how 
crimes were committed, and many were thus tempted. Mrs- 
Dix said for her part she did not know what to do ; she had 
two daughters of marriageable age, but she had not even 
alluded to the subject. Human nature is such, that it is 
dangerous to talk with the young upon some subjects. I 
might give them information which it might be as well for 
them not to have.” 

Mrs. Hayes said she didn’t know ; she thought we erred 
sometimes in not giving our daughters proper instruction and 
information before marriage. Mrs. Orne said it didn’t look 
as though they would come to any conclusion to-day. Mrs. 
Hayes asked if it would not be as well to choose a commit- 
tee to make a report upon the subject. Mrs. White said she 
thought they had better be a committee of the whole, and 
think upon the subject, — get all the light they can upon it, 
and each, at the next meeting, come prepared with a plan, if 
possible, by which the evil can be stayed. To this they 

agreed, and retire d with sad countenances and heavy hearts. 

15 


CHAPTER XVII. 


T^/TRS. Taylor asked Mrs. Dix for the health of the needle- 
woman, and she said she was very well; that Alice had 
taken a school a few miles from town ; that Grace was doing 
finely in the High school, and she believed Fanny went to 
the Grammar school; ‘^bnt/’ said she, “ Mrs. Parks works 
too hard. She must have a constitution of iron. Her 
endurance is beyond anything T ever knew.’’ 

Mrs. Taylor said there was a great deal in the will. If 
a person is determined they will accomplish certain purposes 
or do certain acts, they usually have strength equal to their 
will. Mrs. Parks has a will.” 

Yes,” said Mrs. Orne, “she is most too willing to work, 
but she has found great pleasure in it. I never saw her low- 
spirited or discouraged, and I think we might all envy her 
for her buoyant spirits. I never called when she did not 
appear bright, active, ready to do my work, and I have left 
her wondering how she could always be in such fine spirits.” 

“ 0,” says Mrs. Todd, “ she has such beautiful daughters, 
and they are growing up with her after her own heart. They 
are very kind to her, and they always will be. You never 
knew a family, which, by such industry, had maintained a 
respectable position, who did not continue to live in each 
other. There is no jarring, no discord, no contention, no 
envy, but each is happy in the others’ happiness.” 

It was not many days before Mr. Nye was in the work- 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


115 


room of the needle-woman, on River street; he could not come 
and go unobserved, and his visits attracted the attention of 
Alice’s friends, and she was asked to explain. She did not 
hesitate to announce to them her engagement, which was not 
long in reaching the ears of all her friends in town. Con- 
gratulation followed congratulation, expressions of esteem 
for and interest in her daughter’s prospects and happiness 
were so frequent and evidently so sincere that they began to 
think the whole town their friends, which, in fact and truth, 
they were. They had witnessed the efforts of Mrs. Parks ; 
she had earned, she had won their respect and esteem, and 
she was now convinced they appreciated her. 

No woman could live in New England and so assiduously 
devote herself to the maintainance of herself and daughters 
without securing the regards, the friendship, the interest of 
all persons who can appreciate the heroic efforts of a mother. 
Alice gratified Mr. Nye and consented to be married about 
the time he proposed ; much time was not required for prep- 
aration. She told him she had little to do with, and conse- 
quently but little to do. 

Oh the day of , in the presence of a few friends, 

he said Yes” and she said Yes” and they two were one. 
Alice was dressed simply, neatly, tastily, without any attempt 
to appear different from what she was or her means afforded. 
The little and choice presents were tastefully arranged, and 
after an hour pleasantly and agreeably spent by their fami- 
lies, (they were one, now,) Mr. and Mrs. Nye received the 
best wishes of all present ; Mrs. Nye kissed her mother and 
sisters dear, and they left for home, — sweet home; it has 
been no other to them. 

“It’s no’ in titles, nor in rank, 

. It’s no’ in wealth like Lon’on bank 


116 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


To purchase peace and rest ; 

It’s no’ in makin’ muckle mair, 

It’s no’ in books, it’s no’ in lear 
To make us truly blest. 

If happiness ha’e not her seat 
And centre in the breast — 

We may be wise, or rich, or great, 

But never can be blest ; 

Nae treasures nor pleasures 
Could make us happy lang. 

The heart ay’s the part ay 
That makes us right or wrang.’^ 

“ O happy love, where love like this is found ! 

O heart-felt raptures ! Bliss beyond compare ! 

I’ve paved much this weary, mortal round. 

And sage experience bids me this declare : 

If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare. 

One cordial in this melancholy vale, 

’Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair 
In each other’s arms breathe out the tender tale. 

Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


Xl^HEN the sewing-circle broke-up, they were deeply 
* ^ moved. They had seen distress and relieved it. They 
worked for the poor and afflicted — but the subject which had 
engaged their thoughts and nerved their very souls was not 
mentioned in their rules or by-laws. As they met, on the 
promenade and other places, during the week, they alluded 
to the subject, and each hoped the other would come with 
some plan or suggest some mode by which the evil could be 
corrected ; but when they met, they looked each to the other, 
and were in trouble and doubt. How such heathenish prac- 
tices could be introduced and tolerated among a Christian 
people and in Christian families, was incomprehensible to 
them. 

Mrs. White said she was bold to ask her physician about 
it, and when he told her what he knew — ^how many he sup- 
posed were guilty — and how some persons, called phy- 
sicians, and men who passed for respectable, were parties 
to such crimes, she was appalled. She asked him what could 
be done. He said all such parties should be considered as 
criminals and treated accordingly, ^<^No matter,’ said he, 
* whether they are high or low, rich or poor, ministers’ daugh- 
ters or laymen’s daughters, they should know such practices 
are a sin against high Heaven, which will surely bring ven- 
geance upon the guilty party.’ He had patients all the time 
who have lost their vivacity, their spirits, were languid, 
broken-down, and as old at thirty as they ought to be at fifty. 


118 


THE NEEDLE-WOM^N. 


He could do nothing for them, — thej^ couldn’t rally ; a little 
tonic would give them temporary relief, hut there was such 
inertness, listlessness and torpor in the system, produced, he 
had no doubt, by such practices, that it baffled the skill of the 
physicians. Violence has been done to the system ; conse- 
quently, a wound has been made, and the process of repairs 
may have commenced, but nature has to make extra efforts to 
repair damages ; a loss has been sustained, and, not infre- 
quently, before the repairs are completed, other violence may 
have been done, — and after repeated assaults upon the sys- 
tem, nature has less and less power to regain itself, and after 
a while, gives up, and the patient is beyond recovery. Some- 
times the system is in such condition that inflammation pre- 
vents the commencement of repairs even, and we find any 
attempt to stay the progress of inflammation fruitless, and the 
patient sinks and dies suddenly.” 

How any party can venture upon such acts, particularly 
if acquainted with the human system at all, is mysterious to 
me. I never did attempt it, and if I had no principle to 
prevent my participating in such acts, I judge the risk so 
great that I should never dare to attempt it. Nature will 
not suffer violence long; she is very sensitive, and she will 
not suffer herself to be imposed upon by young people, and 
she seems to be her own avenger. It is true that some per- 
sons recover from such acts of violence, and some partially 
recover, but they never enjoy life. A guilty conscience can’t 
be cured by medicine. The mind affects the body, and more 
seriously than most people are aware of, and when a young 
woman finds she has lost her health by such practices, — that 
her husband begins to shew symptoms of impatience, — she 
droops away and dies. In other cases 

‘ ‘ It hardens all within 
And petrifies the feeling,” 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


119 


and in all cases it is a sinful, wicked and abominable act, a 
murder in the first degree.” 

‘^•Is there no remedy/ said I, and he said he didn’t know. 

^ We medical men have considered the subject, talked about 
it ; we would expel any physician from our associations who 
would assist, aid, or abet in such practices, but then it is so 
difficult to prove it; we may be satisfied the crime has been 
committed, and treat the patient accordingly, but then it is 
our opinion only. We could not testify only in our opinion, 
which, you know, is not evidence to convict a party of crime. 
Then the state of society is such, that it is almost impossible 
even to check such a practice. If I should say to Mrs. F. 
that her daughter was losing her health in consequence of 
such criminality, she would never employ me again. There 
is Dr. A., a well-read, skillful and conscientious physician, 
but he doesn’t have half as much practise as Dr. B., who is a 
notorious libertine and a very ordinary physician.’ [ told him 
I hoped the medical profession would take up the subject and 
expose it in all its length and breadth. He said they would 
find themselves in scalding water very soon. I told him to 
fear not, but let the worst be known.” 

Mrs. Taylor said she and Mrs. Orne met the other day, 
but they could not seem to devise any plan or suggest any 
remedy. Many of the other ladies said they had been inter- 
ested in Mrs. White’s account with her physician, but they 
did not know what to do ; when Mrs. Hayes said she believed 
in agitation. Agitate.” Agitate.” And she thought they 
had better adopt that motto, and agitate and agitate the sub- 
ject, and let the consequences take care of themselves ; to this 
there was one unanimous assent, and many of them said they 
believed it would be an effectual remedy. They now breathed 
easier, their burden was lightened. They could see into, if 


120 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


not through the darkness. They were sanguine, they hoped. 
They had a duty before them ; they would discharge it faith- 
fully, boldly, — effectually they believed. When they separa- 
ted, they said to each other, Agitate is the word.” 

Yes,*’ said Mrs. White, agitate is the word, and let 
the guilty hide, or veil their faces in public. If we don’t raise 
a storm, we will clear our consciences by exposing this sin, 
this crime, in all its deformity and enormity.” 

<^For my part,” said Mrs. Taylor, think the press ought 
to take up the subject, and handle it without gloves. Let 
the public take sides, and if there be any parties who advo- 
cate infanticide, let us see them, mark them, bi:and them. 
Public opinion has great power in this country, and public 
opinion will not tolerate such crimes.” And thus the benev- 
olent society separated once more, having agreed upon a plan 
of action and being fully determined to act upon that plan. 

When we commenced writing it was not our purpose to 
introduce this subject, and how we happened to do so we 
don’t know. It must have been suggested by some thought 
or remark made by somebody, and we propose to leave the 
subject in the hands of this benevolent society to agitate in 
such manner as their judgments dictate. We, however, think 
it a subject which ought to engage the attention of honest 
people, and that parties engaged directly or indirectly in such 
practices should be stamped with infamy. If these lines 
ever reach the public, it must give the writer credit for hav- 
ing done his duty. We began to write for the purpose of 
giving an account of the energy, perseverence, industry, deter- 
mination and success of the needle-woman; other subjects 
have incidentally engaged our attention, and possibly we may 
switch-off” again. This is our first experience in writing a 
book, and perhaps the public will be of the opinion — if they 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


121 


over see it — it ought to be our last. Mrs. Parks has been an 
acquaintance of ours for nearly forty years, and we know the 
facts of which we write. They are substantially true. We 
don’t pretend that every incident occurred just as we have 
written it, or that every person used the precise words we 
have given ; but that Mrs. Parks lost her husband and was 
left in the condition we have described — that by her needle 
she sustained herself and educated her daughters, as we have 
and shall detail, is strictly true ; we would like to give her 
true name, but, for obvious reasons, we were obliged to use 
another name. We proceed with our narrative. 


CHAPTER XTX. 


rpHE next day after the marriage, Mrs. Parks might be 
seen in her room, constantly plying her needle ; Fanny 
was with her, and her mother seemed to have an increasing 
desire for her company, — always cheerful, she lightened her 
burden, though she never seemed to have any burden. It was 
dull to be alone. The light of the countenance and the smile 
of a child are cheerful, and, somehow, the days didn’t seem 
so long when Fanny was at home. 

Grace went to the High School the day after the wedding. 
She kindly answered all the questions of her teachers and 
mates about the wedding and home of Alice, and thanked 
them for their expressions of interest in and wishes for her 
happiness. She was a member of the senior class, and at 
the end of the year she would graduate and then be prepared 
to teach others, which she had anticipated with so much 
pleasure in order that she might relieve her mother. The 
day and the hour came, and we witnessed with great satisfac- 
tion her examination with her class, and enjoyed the class 
party in the evening and the promenade. The teacher very 
graciously told her mother she was as capable of teaching 
the High School as she, the teacher, was, herself. Her moth- 
er’s heart throbbed with emotion I The day of her reward 
had come, She smiled, said she hoped she would succeed in 
teaching, as she had engaged a school for her. 

Her teacher replied, she need givejierself no anxiety on 


THE NEEHLE-WOMaK. 


123 


that account — ^^for ’’ said slie, I have called upon her, as we 
do upon members of the senior class, to hear the recitations 
of the other classes, and I have been so pleased with her 
manner and tact of teaching that I sometimes feared I called 
upon her too often ; but she was so capable, so thorough and 
so accurate, it was a pleasure to hear her recitations and wit- 
ness her mode of teaching others. She has clear and quick 
perceptions, and she knows what she knows. No scholar 
has graduated her superior since I have had charge of the 
school. Now, Mrs. Parks, I don’t say this to flatter you, for 
it is no flattery, — it is no more than the truth.” 

What more could a teacher say, — what could a mother say ! 
She dropped a tear as she remembered how she had been 
left alone in early life with her jewels, how she had worked 
for them, and how, now, she was blessed I Mrs. Parks 
enjoyed the hour,* she received the congratulations of friends, 
who had witnessed the exhibition and who were present to 
enjoy the evening promenade at the invitation of the class. 

These class-promenades are much like the President’s party 
at Commencement: a band of music is present, who usually 
play their choice airs ; the parsons, the lawyers and profes- 
sional men of the town, with the teachers, school-committee, 
the friends of the class, with the literary and cultivated men 
and women, and young people generally, making a select, 
chaste, sociable and agreeable party, and they usually prom- 
enade with the graduating class, commend them for their 
exercises and appearance, bid them all sorts and kinds of 
good wishes — and thus enjoy the evening socially, rationally, 
and in the most agreeable and happy manner possible. It is 
usually the evening of all evenings of the year. The news- 
papers vie with each other in giving a truthful and correct 
account of it; and it usually interests the parents, teachers 


124 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


and pupils of all the schools, hugely. The graduating class 
are ambitious — and woe betide that unlucky wight, who should 
venture to say that the exercises and performances of this 
year were not equal to and as entertaining as they had been 
at any former year. Everybody is happy, and, in being so, 
makes everybody else exceedingly comfortable. The rich 
and poor meet together and merit is the only criterion of 
excellence. Not unfrequently, a little Irish boy will hold his 
head and shoulders above all the rest of the class ; some of 
them are brilliant scholars, having not only an abundance of 
mother wit, but brilliant intellects and keen, quick percep- 
tions. They are the Burkes — the Burns — the Currans of our 
day, and many of them will be the orators, poets, philoso- 
phers and statesmen of America ; we hope none of them will 
have occasion to be warriors, but if they do — such soldiers 
as Sheridan will appear in the hour of danger and trial, and 
rescue America from the hand of the traitor or enemy to the 
constitution and to religious liberty, the equal rights of all 
men under the law and the constitution. 

Mrs. Dix met Mrs. Smith, and after a few moments conver- 
sation about their health and families, she looked at her with 
a sort of conscious triumph and said, Mrs. Parks has put 
out one of her daughters.” 

I understand she has, and into a good family, too.” 

<‘Yes, indeed. Mr. Nye is a young man of character, 
much respected at home, and the family is in very 
good circumstances. Alice kept school there last summer 
and she made many friends, and now she has gone there 
under very pleasant circumstances There were ever so 
many girls of his acquaintance who would have considered 
him a man not to be refused, but he chose Mrs. Parks’ daugh- 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAff. 125 

f 

ter and showed his good sense, or else he was in love and 
•couldn’t help it.” 

Mrs. Taylor here joined them, and said, 0, he was in love 
and couldn’t help it, and it was well for him he couldn’t. 
When a young man marries a girl who tells him all the mon- 
key she has is what he paid her for teaching school foul’ 
months, there is no policy in the match, but a marriage for 
love, and because he saw in her character and habits a per- 
son in whom he could confide and whom he esteemed and 
couldn’t help loving. Such marriages are Heaven-made and 
always prove blessed. Mrs. Parks is now reaping the reward 
of her industry and perseverance : Alice is married, Grace 
has graduated at the High School with the first honors of her 
class, having completed the three years’ course in two yearSj 
and having, her teacher says, a more perfect knowledge of 
her studies than any other member of the class ; in mathe- 
matics she has not a superior, and it is really pleasant to heat* 
her solve problems — she has such clear and perfect under- 
standing of them.” 

Well,” says Mrs. Smith, T give it up I The result shows 
Mrs. Parks was right, and truly I rejoice in her success ; but 
she is a remarkable woman. If she had kept her children 
together and kept them at work, as many families do, it would 
have seemed different ; but she has not only supported them, 
she has educated them as well and better than many rich 
families in town have educated their daughters, and, for my 
part, I don’t know any family more respected or which makes 
a better appearance than Mrs. Parks and her daughters. 
Grace is certainly a girl of very superior abilities, — she 
acquits herself well in any position j Fanny is bright, sprightly 
and a great favorite, — her mother lets her remain at home 
with her so much that her education will not be equal to her 


126 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


sister Grace’s, but it will be sufficient for all practical pur- 
poses.” 

Mrs. Dix said when Mrs. Parks told me what she intend- 
ed to do, I trembled for her; but she was so resolute and 
determined and had so much confidence in her ability that I 
always encouraged her. When her friend, whose name is not 
to be mentioned, told her he would be responsible for her 
rent, it was worth more than the sums he gave her. He says 
they were so small and amounted to so little, they are not 
worth mentioning. They may not have been viewed so by 
her, for a sum, small in itself, may make up the necessary 
amount and be the means of great relief to the recipient.” 

No one knows what they can do till they try. I remember 
of hearing the following story when I was a boy: Mr. Foster 
said to his boy, John, go and tip over that stone.” He said 
0, 1 can’t !” but when ordered again to do it, he obeyed 
and succeeded. His father told him never to say I can’t ” 
again. At noon, he told John to take hold of the corner of 
the house and tip it over. The boy lifted away, and, when I 
heard the story, I couldn’t help" wishing he had toppled over 
the house and his father with it ; but in this way he taught 
his boy not to say I can’t.” Mrs. Parks never seems to 
know the meaning of the word — her motto being God helps 
those who help themselves.” She resolutely and cheerfully 
did the duties of the hour, and she has been eminently suc- 
cessful. 

Grace seems to have the same spirit. She never seems 
to fear to undertake anything, and when she undertook 
to accomplish in two years what others did in three, she nev- 
er had a doubt but what she could do it. Several years after 
she left school she gave me an account of her experience. 
Jenny Snow’s father offered her a piano-forte if she would 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


127 


learn to play on it, but she took no interest in music and 
declined to do it; ^^0,” said Grace, “how I wished he had 
made me the offer I I had to borrow many of my books, 
because the committee did not supply them.” They had 
books. Such is often the case. Girls who have a plenty of 
money and books have no ambition, and, instead of improv- 
ing their minds and of acquiring useful knowledge, spepd 
their time and money for dress and to be stylish and fashion- 
able; while those in moderate circumstances will improve 
every moment. 

A young man was at my door, after I penned the above 
» line?, and he said he was a member of an academy, and he 
was fitting for college; when he entered the academy he had 
fifty cents, and when he had finished the first term he had 
three dollars, — having paid his bills from his own earnings. 
He intended to educate himself and he believed he could do 
it. We wanted to give him ten dollars, but he chose not to 
have any gifts. This young man is sure to win. He has the 
energy and the will necessary ; he has an object, a purpose 
in view, which stimulates and energizes him. I never knew 
such a young man to fail ; when he shall have finished his col- 
legiate course he will have so disciplined his mind and have 
formed such habits of industry and economy that he will 
surely rise from one degree of eminence to another till he 
has made his mark — indeed till he has a name which will 
live. We could give his name, that thirty years hence proof 
might be had of what we have here stated. There is no 
necessity for it, for there are and always will be living wit- 
nesses of the fact, that industry — real work — makes the man ; 
and, when that has beeti commenced in earnest, nothing will 
withstand it. 

“Just as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined,” an old copy 


128 


THE NEEDLE- WMAN. 


from which we wrote more than fifty years ago, was true* 
then, is true now, and always will be true. 

We left several ladies rather abruptly. Grace had gradu- 
ated with the honors of her class. She spent the vacation 
with her mother, with occasionally a day with Alice, and then 
commenced teaching the school which her mother had engaged 
for her. She has now taught seven years with just such suc- 
cess as might have been reasonably expected. With less 
than three hundred dollars a year she faithfully attended to 
her duties for several years. Her salary is now about six 
hundred dollars a year. During all this time, committee after 
committee have visited her schools and uniformly reported 
unusual success. No committee have ever criticised her 
manner of teaching, but have uniformly commended it : Her 
success has been equal to our highest expectations.’’ She has. 
never confined herself to school-hours, The lessons of the 
day must be recited before the pupils can be dismissed,’^ 
when the work of the day is done, then it is time to leave, 
and not till then. When remonstrated with, by other teach- 
ers, for punishing herself for the purpose of compelling the 
dull and indolent to do their work, her only answer has been 
I can’t help what others do and say. I can’t dismiss my 
school till the work of the day is done. I was hired to teach 
this school, and not to stay here six hours and then run home.” 

She has always taught in the town where her mother 
resides and boarded with her on River street. No remon- 
strances from other teachers availed with her ; when she had 
satisfied her conscience that she had done her duty, it was 
time to close her school and not till then, and not even then 
unless her scholars have done their work. Her sister, 
Fanny, has a different turn of mind : she has tact, talent and 
she is a leading spirit in the circles in which she moves. 


THE NEBDLB-WOHAN. 


129 


are coutent with our lot/^ says Grace. “We don’t 
care for dress, — we have been used to be content with such 
as we have, and we don’t intend to distress ourselves to 
appear any different from what we are.” She is an honest, 
laithful, successful teacher. She has had several opportuni- 
ties to change her position, but thus far has been content to 
be a teacher of the youth, and she has been very useful, and 
lives to a good purpose. 

Few people can do more good than the teachers of youth. 
The employment is honorable and ought to be more remune- 
rative. Fanny has also remained with her mother ; skilled 
in all domestic duties, ready with her needle, she maintains 
herself genteelly and well, and but a few days since she was 
heard to say, she would not exchange places with any of the 
girls. “ They have many things we can’t have. We have all 
that is necessary, and are content.” 


17 


CHAPTER XX. 


habits of Americans differ from the habits of peopie 
in England, once the mother country ; but now all countries 
are the mother country of America, lor her inhabitants came 
from every nation, kindred or tribe known upon the face of the 
earth. Consequently, an American has not that attachment to 
his country which some others seem to have. In England, the 
son follows the occupation of the father, and if the father 
was a smith a* thousand years ago, his descendents are now 
hammering iron ; or, if the father was a woolen-manufacturer, 
the representative of the family is a woolen-manufacturer, 
whether in the Old Country or in America ; and so of any 
other occupation, and, very likely, the old stand has been 
transmitted from father to son for thousands of years. But 
it is not so in America ; the son does not often pursue the 
same avocation which his father did, neither does he live in 
the same town, nor occupy the same hamlet. If the father 
was an uneducated man, he felt the want of education and it 
would be the height of his ambition to have his sons educa- 
ted, and in this matter the mother took more interest than 
the father ; if she could see her sons and daughters at school 
preparing themselves for useful positions in society, she 
would deprive herself of many of the conveniences, if not, 
the actual necessities of life. 

Daniel Webster was indebted to his mother for his educa- 
tion and, as he said, for any quickness of apprehension which 
he possessed above the ordinary race of men. She was a 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


131 


reading woman and comprehended the value of an education 
to her sons: “The boys must be educated, Major, if late at 
night and at early dawn it be necessary for me to provide 
for them ; for knowledge will be worth more to them than 
money or estate.” And such has been the sentiment of 
American women. “We must prepare our children for use- 
fulness,” is the common expression of New England women; 
and thus we learn why so many of them occupy positions in 
every nook and corner of the great republic. 

A Frenchman once said, “ Let me write and sing the songs 
of the people, and I will control the nation.” But in New 
England the sons and daughters are modelled by their moth- 
ers. Let me know the mother and the future of the son may 
be foretold with the accuracy with which an astronomer will 
calculate an eclipse or determine the elevation of a mountain 
or the depth of the ocean, — but, ordinarily, she must have 
the co-operation of the father, or the father must have the 
ordinary sense allotted to the majority of the species. The 
sons may possess much more ability than the father, but they 
never excel the mother in intellect or native power. By 
education their minds may be developed and they may make 
their mark in the world, but to their mother they are indebt- 
ed for their “quickness of apprehension,” their sound sense, 
correct taste and judgment. A weak-minded woman was 
never the mother of an eminent man, but a man of ordinary 
ability has often been the father of the most brilliant and 
eminent men in the nation or world. 

[t is not uncommon to find the sons of distinguished men 
their inferior in mind, influence and character, and for no 
other reason than that the mother had little capacity, much 
less than the father. The mother of Webster had no supe- 
rior ; with an eye, black, keen, penetrating, and without much 


132 


THE NEEHLE-iraMAiy. 


education in early life, she possessed great intellectual power 
and she comprehended the value of books and the advantages 
which education gave men, and this advantage she secured 
her sons, — and they were their mother’s sons, her perfect 
representatives. History may not do her justice, for little 
was known of women in her day beyond the family circle, 
and few men seemed to appreciate the power of the mother 
in imparting physical and mental ability to the child. 

In the little village where the needle-woman lived, a man 
with a wife and children resided, who had lived in a vill jge 
not far distant but who found it for his interest to change 
his residence. He was a mechanic, an industrious, honest 
man, not ambitious for place or power, but he assiduously 
provided for his family, and, after the work of the day was 
done, his greatest ambition was to be with the wife of his 
bosom and the mother of his children. He consequently 
enjoyed home, and as he spent his evenings there, his 
children loved home, and it was a pleasure to them to be 
with father and listen to words of wisdom from him. There 
is no place like home to the child, if the parents are kind, 
affectionate, social and agreable. Many a child has been 
driven from home by the moroseness, sternness of the father, 
and because the father took no interest in the little matters 
which were the life of the son, and thus the son would seek 
places unfit for liim and consequently be lost to his parents 
and the world. 

One of the great sins of some fathers consists in keeping 
their children at a distance from them, and in never giving 
them their confidence. But such was not the fault of Mr. 
Lambert ; his children were his blessing, his house his home^ 
and they desired^no other, and, when of proper age, at the 
village school they were prompt, diligent and obedient, and 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


133 


in their studies and proficiency their parents manifested 
much interest, and, consequently, an hour spent in looking 
over the lessons at evening was very agreeable to the child- 
ren. But Charles, only, has any peculiar interest in these 
pages, and here it may only be necessary to say he left the 
High School with the respect of his teachers and with a 
character for sobriety and a demeanor for propriety and cor- 
rect deportment much above and superior to young lads of 
his age, and in a short time he was sought, for a place where 
there was great responsibility, and where integrity was an 
indispensible requisite; and for years he filled this place to 
the entire satisfaction of his employers and secured for him- 
self their confidence and a reputation which cannot be bought 
nor valued in coin. 

As a matter of course, there were lawyers in this village, 
and one of them took great interest in the youth of the 
village and invited them to his office, where he would spend 
an hour with them socially and without any austerity and in 
such a manner as to secure their confidence and respect. 
Charles was of this number, and finding the lawyer alone in 
his office, he asked him if he knew Mr. Parks in his life-time, 
and receiving an affirmative answer, he inquired his charac- 
ter, and received the following account : He was a man of 
strict integrity ; in early life trusted by men of means and 
ever found faithful. His father was an honest farmer, whom 
he had often seen in the village and whom he knew well, and 
his sons are all industrious, prudent men, “not of much show 
but they work for a living, pay their debts and fulfill their 
contracts. They are an honest family. Mr. Parks, of whom 
you inquire, unfortunately accepted office, and, somehow, such 
men never seem to accumulate property, whether it is taken 
from them to sustain the party or for other purposes when 


134 


TBB KBEDLE-WOMAN. 


there is a change of administration and consequently a 
change of subordinate officers, no one of them seems to have 
anything left; and such was the case with Mr. Parks, — when 
he left his offiee he had spent many of his best days, but he 
left it with less than he had when be entered, and he com- 
menced business again. But years had made changes, and 
after a few years, his health began to fail him, and he sick- 
ened and died* He left his family without means, but he had 
the reputation of being an honest man.*^ 

Charles said he wanted to know, or was glad to know — 
or words to that effect — and no more. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


i^pHERE are attractions in all the avocations of life. The 
young aspire to be merchants, that they may be rich and 
have everything that their eyes covet or their hearts desire, 
while some aspire to be learned, and others great, and others 
seek power and position; but all these never satisfy the 
mind. The literary man is seldom satisfied with his learn- 
ing, — the man of position seeks something beyond, which 
attracts his attention and which seems necessary to the fulfill- 
ment of his ambition, and for the attainment of which he will 
spend his time and his strength; and the merchant, after 
weary days and nights of counting his gold and reckoning 
his profits, longs for the country, where, upon the farm, he 
may enjoy life and be free from the anxiety of credits and 
the perplexities of business. But the young farmer finds 
constant enjoyment in his work : he looks upon his fields, — 
they invite him to sow his seed and patiently wait the bles- 
sing of Heaven. The blade and the tender herb in the field 
are, to him, sources of much joy ; the lowing of the ox, the 
neighing of the horse and bleating of the lamb are music to 
his ear. What is more beautiful than the waving field of 
grain, or sweeter than the smell of new-mown grass, or what 
is more attractive than the pasture, in which the horse, the 
ox, the cow, the sheep, the calves, the lambs do all leave their 
grazing and run to bid him welcome to their enclosure. 
There is something majestic in the noble ox, — the man of 


136 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


letters, the statesmen, or divine never tire of looking at him 
with his stately gait and dignified demeanor. 

Webster had his friends around him : the learned jurist, 
the eloquent barrister, the devout divine, the eminent physi- 
cian and his never-tiring friend were there to comfort him in 
his dying hour, to hear from him his last words of wisdom 
and to console him in his last hours. They were not enough. 
'‘Tell John to drive the oxen to the window, that I may 
once more see their faces before I die.” Such was his admi- 
ration of this animal that the sight of him eased his pain 
and caused him almost to forget he was dying. 

The higher the cultivation of the mind the more compre- 
hensive the intellect, the greater the love of Nature and the 
animals which God made for man. To the cultivated man 
there is always an attraction about the old farm homestead ; 
the little rivulet where he, with pin-hook, caught his first 
shiner, and where he has seen the little trout dart and hide 
beneath the rock or the overgrown moss, afford him a pecu- 
liar pleasure. Then the yard filled with the domestic animals 
which look to him for sustenance and protection, and which 
are ready to do service at his bidding give him peculiar satis- 
faction and delight. 

Mr. Nye, when his first vision extended beyond the walls 
of the nursery, saw the animals pass around the farm, and 
he soon began to follow them to the barn and then to the 
pasture, and, as he grew up and began to care for and pro- 
tect them, his interest in them increased and the pleasure of 
the farm and the farm-life satisfied him. He and Alice were 
now living together where he was born and where he first 
began to realize the objects, the ends of life. Life was now 
a reality to him. To be a good husband, a good citizen, an 
\ipright man, respected by himself and his fellow-citizens, to 


THE NEEDI.E-WOMAN. 137 

cultivate his farm and secure his crops in their season, to 
economise all his resources — that each year might secure him 
a small surplus above the ordinary and incidental expenses 
of his household — occupied his attention and gave him 
employment the year round. There was nothing peculiar 
in his farm ; it was situated a lew rods from, but in sight of 
the main stage-road, it had its undulating land, its hills and 
doles, its fields, its pasture and its wood with rivulets and 
springs, and it produced well, for it was cultivated with care 
and judgment. It had its peculiar attractions for Mr. Nye, 
because it was his birth-place and the birth-place of his grand- 
fathers, whose children had left to pursue avocations agree- 
able to their tastes and inclinations, leaving Mr. Nye^s father 
at home to care for and protect their parents in the decline 
of life ; consequently, the homestead was, by common consent, 
his birth-right. 

And now George was content to do as his father had done, 
and Alice was his wife, to share the duties, the pleasures, the 
responsibilities of life with him, and here they were content; 
and here Mrs. Parks and Grace and Fanny were ever wel- 
come to spend a day, a* week or a month, as their several 
duties would permit, and here they enjoyed the hour as those 
whose objects, whose joys and sorrows are one can enjoy life ; 
and here, too, when the door was closed at the dwelling on 
Eiver street, Charles Lambert, Israel Taylor and Thomas 
Woods found it pleasant to spend an evening with Grace and 
Fanny, a few miles’ ride adding to the enjoyment of the hour, 
and no wonder, for Grace was intelligent, sharp, and enter- 
taining, having unusual conversational powers, while Fanny 
was bright, sprightly, and attractive. 

And here we leave Mr. and Mrs. Nye. for the present, 

enjoying life. They were independent. Their independence 
18 


MlS isEEBLE-WOMAN. 


138 

consists in their habits of diligence, prudence and economy, 
and in limiting their wants to their means. Their wants are 
not meagre nor their means scanty, but tliey-have all tliat 
may be necessary for a happy and useful life. What more 
can the rich have ? What more can they enjoy.^ What do the 
gay, the fashionable, the millionaires have which can be com- 
pared to this — or what would they give for that independence 
which lifts them above' pride, vanity and fashionable life? 



\ 


I 



CHAPTER 

^pplERE are some young men, whose conduct cannot be 
reconciled with honorable dealing, good manners, good 
breeding, nor with that propriety or delicacy of feeling which 
should be the heritage of every cultivated young man. Many 
don’t weigh the consequences of their acts or professions. 
It is not unusual for some young naen to show marked atten- 
tion to young ladies of their acquaintance, to excite expecta- 
tions and to give occasion or reasons for supposing their 
intentions have meaning and a purpose, and they conduct 
themselves in such a manner as to show they have neither sin- 
cerity, honor or integrity, and, strange as it may seem, some- 
times such young men enlist the feelings and secure the affec- 
tions of a cultivated young lady. Society suffers from the 
insincerity and duplicity of such parties. 

But we find less of this class of young men in the mid- 
dle walks of life, than we do in the more fashionable and 
trifling circles, and here indeed, their characters are properly 
appreciated, and they are met by parties whose sincerity and 
friendship is like tow in the fire. It is evanescent. It has 
no worth. It cannot rise above self-gratification or self- 
aggrandisement. It does not elevate, but depresses. It does 
not produce union and harmony, but discord and strife ; and 
when parties of such character are united in the holy bands 
of matrimony^ they may, for a while, tolerate -each other, but 
the true felicity, the union of heart and soul and the happi- 


140 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


ness which arises from seeking to promote peace, the content- 
ment, the well-being, the desire to render each other’s condi- 
tion equally peacelul, and to realize all their excited hopes or 
expectations, or to joy with each other’s joy or sori'ow with 
each other’s sorrow has never seemed to them to be a part of 
life; but selfishness, self-gratification, self-indulgence is the 
ruling passion with them, aiKl, with such, life is a mere strife, 
a broil, without noble purposes, without honorable ends, it 
may be endured, but it is a stranger to enjoyment, to the sin- 
cere felicity of the disinterested friend or lover. 

But in the middle walks of life ambition, the desire to 
attract attention, to secure edat is not the prominent motive 
or feeling, but to love and be loved, to merit affection, to 
secure confidence, to trust and be trusted, to make happy and 
be happy is the prominent desire and purpose of life. 

When Charles Lambert made inquiries of the character of 
Mr. Parks he had an object, honorable to him, and the result 
of the inquiry may have been the turning-point in his life. 
He was acquainted with Mrs. Parks and her daughters. 
There was no occasion to inquii e about them ; his own obser- 
vation gave him all the information necessary, all, indeed, he 
desired. He visited at the house on River street, he met 
Grace and Fanny at the social-circle, he saw them, he con- 
versed with them, he knew their characters. They knew his 
character, his habits, bis reputation. They took pleasure in 
seeing him promoted from one position to another, and as 
they heard his name mentioned with approbation, it afforded 
them pleasure. 

Faniiy said he was a good friend. They never had a 
brother. The friendship of a young man of character, who 
had secured the respect and confidence of men, was to them 
a treasure .of* great value. They appreciated his friendship, 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


141 


they cultivated his acquaintance. Common sense was not‘a 
stranger to Mrs. Parks and her daughters. Life to them had 
a meaning, a purpose and end. They saw much of life. 
Tliey had lived much in society, for, at their house, work must 
he done for a great number of persons with greatly diversi- 
fied characters. Perhaps Mrs. Parks’ work-room was as good 
a pi ce to study character as any other position or condition. 
The young people were often there; the middle-aged, the 
matron who had daughters whom she was about to introduce 
into society and sons for whom she desired to secure the re- 
spect and confidence of the community. Their views, feel- 
ings, desires, intentions were here often expressed without 
reserve, and it was not difficult to determine the motive and 
the governing principle of their lives. 

Human nature seems to be the same it was in the days of 
the fathers, and it will, probably, continue the same, notwith- 
standing kings are losing their authority and the people begin 
to understand, appreciate and assert their rights. Time pas- 
ses rapidly. It seems but a few days since Mrs. Parks under- 
took to sustain herself and daughters with the needle. It 
seems but a few days since Mrs. Taylor called and offered 
her employment. But Alice has been married, and she is a 
mother ; Grace has taught school for seven years, and her 
salary has been increased from two hundred and forty dollars 
to six hundred dollars; Fanny has grown to be a young 
woman, educated, yea, more versed in all the domestic duties 
of the family ; and Charles Lambert and a host of other lads, 
who, but yesterday, were driving the hoop or tossing the ball, 
are young men, occupying useful and responsible positions. 
Such is life. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


1\/TRS.' Parks has never regretted that s])e undertook to 
support herself and daughters with her needle. Mr. and 
Mrs. Nje often call and seat themselves in the work-room, 
with a beautiful daughter, with whom God has blessed them. 
His sister, Mary, long since married, and she, also, lives upon 
a farm, a mile or two from the old mansion, with her husband 
and three children worth living for. Mr. Nye’s house is 
always open for Mrs. Parks and her daughters, and many a 
day have they whiled away in this retired and beautiful farm- 
house, where contentment and, consequently, happiness reign 
triumphant. 

Mrs. Parks says her daughters have never suffered for the 
want of anything ; it would have been convenient and agree- 
able to have had many things which they have not had, but 
as^for actual suffering — they know it not. And now, with 
proper industry and economy, they are independent, and, as 
age advances and her ability lessens, she has no fear but what 
she will have all the necessaries and many of the convenien- 
ces of life. It is not to be supposed that these parties have 
had uninterrupted good health, that no sickness has entered 
their dwelling, for such is not usual in families in New Eng- 
land. Fanny, in her early school-days, was often compelled 
to remain at home, from indisposition ; Grace has, also, found 
the attendance of a physician, twice a day, necessary to stay 
the raging of disease; and Mrs. Parks has often found the 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


143 


labors of the day so exhaustive that to-morrow has found her 
prostrate, and rest absolutely necessary for her physical 
being. 

On the sea-shore, in some parts of New England, of late 
years, have been erected tenements for the accommodation of 
families who wish to go to the sea-shore and enjoy the bracing 
air from the ocean without the expense or annoyance of fash- 
ion, pride and vanity. A few days since, in one of these ten- 
ements was a woman with her two daughters. They provid- 
ed their own meals and enjoyed the beauties of the ocean and 
breathed its invigorating air. Mrs. Parks had been to the 
ocean before and so had her daughters, but now they were 
there for several days, and saw the waves rise and recede, 
strike the earth and then roll back again, just so, day by day 
and evening by evening. In the distance were the white sails 
passing before them, and occasionally a steam-boat cutting its 
way through the watery deep, all of which were beautiful and 
exciting ; but then, as the sun appeared in the morning, com- 
ing out of the deep sea, and the moon, at night, rolling itself 
out of the water, the mind is awed into silence. 

The majesty of Heaven is in sight: We see the sun rise 
and the moon and stars appear in their turn, and think noth- 
ing of it ; but by the ocean-side the moon and stars, the ocean 
with constant and never-varying roar, the ships at sea, and 
the waves — interrupted by no hand, stayed by no power — all 
combined to render the scene grand, — awful. And ’here were 
Mrs. Parks and her daughter Fanny full of lite and spirit, 
exclaiming, “ 0, how wonderful 1 How grand I How splendid r 
but Grace sat looking, not a word dropped from her lips. 
She saw with what mathematical precision wave after wave 
appeared, the moon, never so beautiful, never so splendid, 
never so magnificent before. She contemplated, she saw, she 


144 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


enjoyed the whole scene in comparative silence, in wonder 
and admiration. Beautiful, splendid, magnificent were words 
too insignificant to express the depth of her soul. 

“ Ah ! Mother, there ^^s a God, He rules in Heaven above 
and on earth beneath. There is no chance here. These 
ocean waves don’t beat these shores as one that dreameth. 
The majesty of Heaven is here. The greatness of Jehovah is 
spread out before us, and he, who thinks h.c can escape His 
judgments or hide from His presence, let him here put out 
his hands and stay the waves of the mighty ocean. Yes, 
mother, there is a God of mighty power, a God .of Justice, of 
Love and of Mercy. He is in the ocean depth. He is in the 
firmament above as He is here. He is everywhere.” 

“Yes, my dear. And He is the God whom T have trusted ; 
He is the God upon whom I have relied, and He is the God, 
who, with tender eye, looks upon the widow and the father- 
less. He is true, — His word is true. He never forsakes 
those who trust Him. He is the widow’s God and a father 
to the fatherless.” 

For a day, Mr. Nye, Alice and Lucy were there, to enjoy 
the ocean wave, to breathe the pure and invigorating air 
from its mighty depths ; but it was no place for the needle- 
woman and her jewels to forget, but just the place and the 
scene to impress upon them, the duties of the hour, and the 
obligations of man to his Maker. Can there be a man so 
stupid, after spending a day, a night here, to deny the God 
who made him ? But when the mighty ocean is in full view 
with all its beauty, its grandeur and magnificence, and man 
stops to think, to reflect, to consider the power and wisdom 
of the Creator, the power with wliich the ocean moves, and 
the wisdom, which, in the creation, planned and completed 
and sustained His works, he may well exclaim, “Wonderful! 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 145 

Wonderful are Thy Works; in Wisdom hast Thou made 
them all.” 

Mrs. Parks was impressed — her daughters were impressed 
with the wisdom and mighty power, which was in full view. 
Others might rant around in pleasure’s ring ” and neither 
see nor feel the power and wisdom which was before them.* 
Others might waste their talents or bury them in mirth and 
levity, but here Mrs. Parks and her daughters could but see 
and adore — and grow wiser and better every hour. They 
returned to their duties cheerful and happy ; cheerful, because 
they had long since learned to be content with their condition 
and circumstances, and happy, because such is the reward of 
industry and virtue, a reward to which they were eminently 
entitled, and which no earthly power could wrest from them* 


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pelling power is beyond their conception, its force is irre- 
sistible. Men are- disarmed; they see their own weakness 
and a power which they can neither resist nor control. A 
storm arises among men. They look at each other with flash- 
ing eyes, with knit brows, with frowns and in anger. An 
attempt to allay the storm is as useless as the attempt to 
control the hurricane. The pent-up fires are lighted, the 
smouldering embers are on fire ; they increase and spread, 
till a general conflagration claims and arouses the people to 
action, to self-protection. They then act with decision, with 
power, with efficiency. 

The angry multitude must be appeased, if the life of men 
be requisite — if brothers war with brothers, and the nation 
fly to arms. The experience of the last few years show how 
men will act when their favorite institutions are attacked, or 
the liberties of their country or the integrity of their govern- 
ment are in peril. The young men are for war, often 




m 


iaipelli^d td-tteili foraproiep.tioRy butfjwto 

Mil;Vj8^CBificei)roi(temftbBthek ebitntry |and whd/regaMfdeatb 
fe mefe bomti^vHcp^ojkWei(ijBetteir)<to(dioion‘tbe 
ilharl , tuiilirsE^) iFi4ih[l anboc^dtr j ,id fehonbred’ ^ dK with 1 1 rai tHi^ 
^pmphaRjt.^isib/b ibdt oxifaDi oi ni^yd ^booHajmai oj n'f/ori\ 
During the late civil strife young men could notodrd 
r,est^adnedLMfr.onbdoffe?ingi their li\leb to their countiy<'hrrd Diet 
iibuSMi i waa> 2 the»?axdlamatidriit’ liTe tivirtj^^years, and 

lb mtmd to say 4o my cKiW/en that?Iit(wk bo part 

in %Urbduingiiho3 grebtHsAmericain^ Rebei^dnjiiiil AbuM^ rafchor 
4ie,^mueh.crather /ife^onnbe fieMidfld^attM, in xiefdneevof liwy 
iCC^'atry^''thano4ob Jive^l)ayi’ng#lhadr^^^ shire in^Feseuing^hbr 
,fcdift<tbe haTidmt^ the’lllestFo;|^er lUlt WorSsi were Ml tooti much 
mcco«b0 €®^l^Sftbh ^>b^ca§idft^"f^^tio^ a^d)^ ls i:he wbrdl^^ 
biemg'i tdllld'D 

^oip %iH 'nan'ddla|fil'^ Whdn then Struggle 

4iad >^giids^d the^dh§er%d^moddhltiift^t;fandt^^ ^feettu 
%M4^Mflttrliifftde^46 ter ^libttBrtaMtM pU#io^te 

"tlife da'i^lt^ atid'-ttie^d^btfds A^Mfig-ibarf ttik^ 

|)jsi&%^^hduskiM§ ^dr^yfe^' bpbiPhifti 
?Stiiln0^s b|tf fiJye testffc^inMy^and|*wilh iSDWb^t®d^"en’ea’g|yl, 
^ay^td Itheflt, ^^I’in^gdibg td^Wk’ pi 

iri^hidiit’teS^pagri i Tfhd 
^rdtiidi of olP^Se -#tiild^ aWiSbMM^^ 

'fehi^tej^bbfv^phblSt^^ed^'t^ ^'ofitB'^4b&!%d|ye M tHeb'dte* 

How changed was everything during ted 

'4bdingiikis §lru|;^l€^P^¥^uti^%%i^w^S ibii4hi#^ td'tb^&hsio 

StH^iP ^§6bn^f |d^nih§Efet,^^^ 

d&f df'^ili\^aneS%iati[]^F '^hfe 
ibiidieiif bl^n^^€Pbe 


148 


tSB NBBDLE-WOJfAJf. 


thenaselves again, and, though many a heart sighs for the 
friend buried in a patriot’s grave, the fact that he died in 
defence of his country soothes the aching heart and dries the 
falling tear^ Those, however, who, in the meantime, have 
grown to manhood, begin to realize their duties and obliga- 
tions. 

To live alone is not life ; it is mere subsistence, without 
any of the joys or sorrows of life. These are wonderfully 
and wisely mixed. Variety is said to be the spice of life ; 
what would that life be which is all joy or all sorrow ? A 
stale existence. It would have no variety, no charm. Provi- 
dence is wise. He meets to us joys and sorrows ; such a 
variety that one relieves the other. If it were all sunshine, 
we should never know the beauties of the summer rain, nor 
the glory of the rainbow; and if it were all joy, we should 
never know the relief from sorrow, the worth of sympathy, 
or the value of friendship, — and if it were all sorrow, how 
dark the picture would be, how sad the countenance, how 
vacant the smile. Indeed, there would be no smile. But 
now how sweet a smile is, how valuable to the aching heart. 
It is surpassing calculations, it cannot be valued in coin, 
treasures will not buy it, riches cannot gain it. It is beyond 
the reach of the miser ; it is worth more than silver or gold, 
because it gives what silver and gold cannot give : it gives 
relief to an aching heart, it gives peace to a troubled soul* 
What is life without a friend ? Ah, more, what is life with- 
out a companion ? 

Charles Lambert had the confidence of his fellow-men. 
He respected himself, and he was respected. But, after the 
duties of the day had been faithfully discharged, something 
was wanting. He might not know precisely what, but he 
found his way to Mrs. Parks’ house on River street and he 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


149 


met Grace and Fanny, and here, in the social circle, he found 
relief from the burdens of the day or the duties of the hour, 
and soon he found his calls here as regular as the calls of his 
business or the duties of the hour, and thus he experienced 
the fact that it was not good for man to be alone. Indeed, 
he could not live alone. The approbation of friends did not 
satisfy, the respect of his fellow-men was not all his heart 
desired. But when at the house of Mrs. Parks, there seemed 
to be a satisfaction, a contentment, a relief, which his very 
nature desired, which his very soul craved, and he found him- 
self often in the society of Grace and Fanny, and that the 
society seemed necessary to his existense. But he had com- 
mon sense, and this led him to the correct appreciation of 
the fact that he could not live alone, — ah, more: that he 
could not live without Fanny Parks — and he did not want to, 
— and he told her so, — and she told him he need not, for she 
would live with him. 


MJLUow-^mdam H liHi’ 


m 

50001 ^aloib bi^oa sdi ai h.m &£i^ oo-siO isdi 

^lood adj lo aailofe adl lo adi lo aaatsiod adl moil laifei 
aid lo elbo adi idu'g^'i aiad alioo sid fciiodt ad tiooa ba^ 
baatiahaqsLa ad aodj ba^ adj lo aaiiub ad-J lo saaobod 
,_baa&ril 3001 ^ ad o-l 0 .jsai lol boo.^ iOa li lijdJ ladl adj 
3oa fcib abaahl lo iiotladoiijiio sdT .oooIb avil khi bfooa ad 
i’load aM ik JO0 hbw m^m-z •Taaviaai adj .TlHiJaa 

^ vflfa^fei 

*dF 3^^ tiiif iio^ k 3id&5dd 

it?% 

t8 lanfe^ieS*, %Ti (iSfiferilSi- 

^ MaiiMf oStfft'^ ^6l’k#’^l4'''WfT5H§y^1cli^ 

so and they thought she had been fortunaB^f^^^F\^^^kl^^nk 
well of Mr. Lambert.” 

" And so do I,” said Fanny. 

Indeed they had reason to, for he had an unsullied reputa- 
tion and had shown himself not only trusty and faithful, but 
capable. Some young men seem to be honest, but they have 
no tact or turn for business : They can do what they are 
told, but lack the capacity to manage business, the judgment 
and self-reliance which are requisite for success. It is not 
only necessary to know how and what to do, but to have 
energy, snap,” as the Yankees say, — a capacity for dispatch 
and for completing what is commenced. It is not unfrequent 
that the remark is made of a young man: '<He seems to be 
honest and trusty, but he has no business in him.” Capacity 
as well as honesty is necessary to the successful transaction 
of business. 


THE*;; 


m 


H-'l*erlraT) 8 ''n 0 tp€a^on 8 feJf moM interest fn Mf s. ^Pateitiirid 
tel dafi^bteilse than f Mrs. uI3Sx|i h^ !iPayl0fl' PiyLt^#0 

sewm^-oirelft' tSey r43aadefi teafisufejtei of tcdnveriaticHi'tafad 
epcpregsedDHiueh satisfaction >rri file faoiTthate^tBey liad teio tfa^ 
daily ’friendS’Of Mrs» Parks, ia.nflkthatsshe'isid sori&uChS’eyDaA 

fert .''in' tes''daughf eras- ■« K’- •3;'’«6fo!:irfs as pvs'd ?f3i{JA; seoaw 

if .•"Wbeiir E first ; ©ailed, ion iher/i sa;^s ;Mr8.'5;Taylor, '‘Paaejf 
#a8 a .littia girlf bright^ sprightly^ ifuli of iltfe: andanery; atteaci 
tire asl sote dittle ©reatoresfafe,: aiidiidw sSfe tes’grcfWa uji 
to »be a yOinng 'Woman and she is erigagedtifo temarriede 
seems but; a feW «daya;iisince ydaicalledmay afctentioQttb'MtB; 
Pairks and:'her'danghters,j.Mfsy Diis.”-; .b.’s ssklB&Sih 
If) ‘‘Mo,-it;T;iSf only ate days, and? yet :it - is neanly i twpaty 
years : since ! Me.: Packs .died^^rfl^api so gladiMrstJiaimbeiijt has 
mkde aaeh.a eholce^andf aiwise^epey toa^il Ihiaki^l loarfos OiS 
ei.i i“ Epj^ jmy Tpart, I tWnkehMisiWbrtby ;iof v'ady.;y^^ .pi 

■tbCt^vlUage, abddnmkWpg^thfi aelteteii&h has^oimidfe^ 
ed his own good sense and judgment, and has not choseada 
yjeuagfKla%l bei&h'tse! tedatte ,mSi;rieh.ajid)?8QHiddiinBf tey 
leawher^money, dmtlMri:rlBlti^»npoh ;hiitelf>4amiii®am^ 
mhke^kim ite;Wtf^%%jphPtte?,s®heihiai3MmipK8hed3ra alEdhfe 
4«mestw -4ulaeS M&fotheshejasfeted'ji wWcteii Srocth nrord toid 
y'Wihg^man jihad sfeaifuEiplayiBg.'^wa; tysjfiana;^ the 

feeJridnable'fttioiiimplishmeatSjiofkthw dge.oo3:B€sidd, ishe ,ean 
fficetyjel aedaehtm'tain ;doinpahy;;88?pleafeantly* asidny- joang 
person of her agft(?’?.Kf' 5 q-«ii bee df'stc? Wi esdfiw' Jssibcii 
0 e Hete.TMr8<-;Smitlr' camftMpiiffidlMtid^"^ ydd seeM to 
.to rmdcH MiteiEe^edbiffivyonF,«Qhteaa.tidmi’ ®iS Ji05jiu5'§e,§as 
-i^id'vMfiis bPis, dJEriSapposee ypfdlfltee dpfurd 4iat 
J^fle^eBks haaitsbaclndsdiiioipHliOdfeanotheE heetdaughi- 
ters: Fanny, the youngest” 'keia; 

: cd‘i"0-<i'yeai:l Mt^Kha¥dl^fi%;.dtid‘I wassBtudbipleaadd when 


152 


THE NEEDLE-WOMAN. 


I heard of it. I thought Mrs. Parks undertook too much 
after the death of her husband, but I tell you what, Mrs. Dix, 
I believe Providence smiles on industry, and I believe He has 
peculiar care of fatherless children. Now, how many young 
ladies in the village we could name, who are highly educated, 
whose fathers have an abundance of wealth and who occupy 
position in society and command influence and who could 
give a young man advancement at once, and who would glad- 
ly have given Mr. Lambert their daughters ! But he has cho- 
sen another, who has neither money nor rich friends, but who 
nevertheless, will make him happy, and will help him sur- 
mount difficulties and, in the voyage of life, triumph with a 
buoyant spirit, cheerful, self-reliant. She has seen much of 
real life, while many young ladies, educated, fashionable, have 
no correct idea of life, no practical views of what life really 
is, though they have been introduced into society with all the 
advantages which education, wealth and position could give 
them.” 

"Yes, Mrs. Smith, it is so, and we think Mr. Lambert has 
made a wise choice, and though I have no personal acquain- 
tance with him,” said Mrs. Taylor, " [ have great respect for 
him from what I have heard of him, and this last act increas- 
es my respect. I shall congratulate Mrs. Parks when I see 
her, and Fanny too. I really can rejoice with her, for I have 
always felt a great interest in her and she will ever have my 
kindest wishes tor her health and happiness.” 

Mrs. Dix says she had seldom known so popular an 
engagement. She had heard it mentioned by many ladies in 
the village and they all seemed to be glad, — " they could not 
have been more so had she been one of their own daugh- 
ters.” 

" I don’t wonder at all,” said Mrs. Taylor, " for we have 


THE NEBDLE-WOMAK. 


153 


all witnessed the efforts, energy and diligence of Mrs. Parks, 
and we all hope the evening of life with her will be pleasant 
and free from care and anxiety.” 

Mrs. Smith said ‘'Her example is worthy of imitation, 
indeed more, — of the highest commendation ; and when I see 
any one complaining of the hardships of life, I point them to 
Mrs. Parks and tell them to imitate her in industry, diligence 
and economy and they will find their burdens lighter and 
their causes of complaint, like the hills in the distance 
smaller and smaller the nearer you approach them.” 


20 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


"lY/TRS. Parks is now past fifty years of age. It is near 
-^"-■-twenty years since she found herself with three jewels, 
sunbeams, looking to her alone for sustenance and stimula- 
ting her to exertion, to diligence, and, at the same time, shed- 
ding light in her path and making life desirable and full of 
hope and joy. 

Many ehanges have taken place in that time : The com- 
panions of her youth have passed away, leaving one here 
and another there, — now in the decline of life. Upon some, 
—fortune^ some would say, — we say Providence has smiled. 
Others have struggled with adversity and found the trials of 
life many and frequent. Sunshine and shade seem to be the 
inheritance of mankind. To know how to enjoy the sunshine, 
and in the shade prepare for the reappearance of the sun, 
and at all times to regard the light and shade with equanimi- 
ty, with self-reliance and reconciliation, is true philosophy. 
The future is before us ; we cannot penetrate a moment. It 
is well we cannot. We can look upon the past, — review it, 
consider it, and learn wisdom from its teachings. But when 
we ask What will be on the morrow ?” We can only reply? 

To-morrow is in the hand of Providence ; His infiinite wis- 
dom has not revealed it to us.” We discharge the duties of 
the hour and meet them as they come. Three-score years, 
and the little ones, whom we protected, taught and loved, are 
side-by-side with us in the journey of Life. 


THB NEEDLB-WOMAN. 


155 


Alice, Mrs. Parks’ eldest daughter, long since assumed the 
duties of married life. Her daughter accompanies her to the 
house on River street and sheds light on the path of the 
household. Grace, for ten years, has been the faithful, hon- 
est teacher. It is impossible to value the services of a teach- 
er of the young; wages are paid them for their time and 
labor, but the value of those services to class after class, year 
after year, cannot^be determined by dollars and cents. They 
are seldom appreciated. They come as a matter of course 
and, like many of the privileges and blessings of life, no esti- 
mate is ever placed upon them, because they are beyond the 
comprehension of finite beings. 

We might continue this narrative, but our purpose is 
accomplished. Mrs. Parks may live many years ; light shines 
in her path. The decline of life is cheerful and happy, and 
she lives relying upon that Providence, who helps those who 
help themselves, and who is the widpw’s God and a Father 
to the fatherless. 


V 



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